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A    MEMOIR 


THE   LIFE 


JAMES   IILNOE,   D.D. 


LATE    RECTOR 


OF  ST.  GEORGE'S  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK. 


BY  THE   REV.  JOHN  S.   STONE,   D.D 

EECTOR    OF    CHBIST   CHUKCH,   BEOOKI-TN. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 
AMERICAN    TRACT    SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


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Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1848,  by 

WILLIAM  H.   MILNOR, 

m  the  Clark's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


PREFACE. 


In  accounting  for  the  delayed  appearance  of  the  following  Memoir, 
it  is  proper  to  state,  that  the  work  of  collecting  its  materials  was  ob- 
structed by  an  efibrt  to  recover  the  foreign  correspondence  of  Dr.  Milnor, 
particularly  that  part  of  it  in  the  hands  of  his  friend  the  Bishop  of  Cal- 
cutta. About  the  time  of  Dr.  Milnor's  death,  Bishop  Wilson  visited  Eng- 
land for  the  improvement  of  his  health.  While  there,  it  was  ascertained, 
that  he  had  left  Dr.  Milnor's  letters  among  his  other  papers  at  Calcutta. 
Hence,  much  time  was  lost  in  waiting  for  his  return  to  India,  in  the  hope 
that  something  valuable  from  that  quarter  might  at  length  be  recovered. 
After  all,  however,  it  was  found  necessary  to  proceed  to  the  work  with 
such  materials  only  as  had  been  gathered  in  this  country.  Accordingly, 
the  documents  were  put  into  the  writer's  hands,  and  he  at  once  addressed 
himself  to  the  task  of  their  examination  and  arrangement.  In  this,  miich 
time  was  necessarily  consumed.  Large  masses  both  of  manuscript  and  of 
print  required  reading,  which  were  of  no  use.  And  when  at  last  the 
required  selection  had  been  made  and  arranged,  the  labor  of  composition 
was  constantly  impeded  by  the  daily  and  unshared  care  of  a  parish.  Nor 
was  this  all ;  for  when  that  labor  had  been  brought  to  a  close,  the  work 
of  publication  was  still  longer  postponed  by  the  writer's  recent  unavoid- 
able absence  from  the  country. 

As  to  his  own  part  in  the  Memoir,  the  writer  desires  to  say,  that  in 
the  use  made  of  Dr.  Milnor's  diaries,  journal,  and  letters,  he  has  taken  no 
other  liberties  than  such  as  he  supposed  his  friend  would  himself  have 
taken,  had  he  attempted,  while  living,  to  prepare  them  for  the  press. 
Written  as  those  papers  were,  amid  the  bustle  of  a  busy  life,  and  with  no 
thought  of  their  being  ever  embodied  in  their  present  form,  they  of  course 
needed  some  revision.  The  clearing  of  the  meaning  of  some  sentences, 
by  an  occasional  transposition  in  the  order  of  their  members,  and  by  the 
occasional  substitution  of  more  exactly  significant  words  for  those  which 
had  been  seized  in  the  process  of  rapid  composition,  and  which  but  im- 
perfectly expressed  the  author's  thought ;  and  the  softening,  here  and 
there,  of  a  term,  which  in  the  confidence  of  familiar  intercourse,  was  safe 
and  proper,  but  which  with  a  public  necessarily  ignorant  of  minute  and 
explanatory  circumstances,  might  be  regarded  as  too  strong :  these  are 


4  PREFACE. 

the  chief  freedoms,  which,  in  the  execution  of  his  task,  he  has  felt  at 
liberty  to  indulge.  Generally,  Dr.  Milnor's  expressions  needed  no  cor- 
rection. Many  personal  references,  however,  both  to  himself  and  to 
others,  have  been  dropped ;  and  as  little,  that  coiild  be  painful  to  the 
feelings  of  the  hving,  has  been  retained,  as  was  consistent  witfi  fidelity 
to  the  character  and  views  of  the  dead,,  and  to  those  public  interests  and 
trusts  under  which  he  was  called  to  act.  Dr.  Milnor  lived  to  see  the 
Church  pass  into,  if  not  through  troublous  times — ^times  during  which 
public  feeling  was  often  most  painfully  alive  ;  and  he  felt  called  to  act  in 
many  stations  where  he  became  himself  the  occasion  of  much  of  the  feel- 
ing by  which  the  public  was  affected.  It  was  therefore  difficult,  if  not 
impossible,  to  write  the  life  of  such  a  man  after  he  had  left  the  stage, 
without  sometimes  reviving  memories  more  or  less  unwelcome  to  not  a 
few  of  his  survivors. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  in  the  following  work  are  virtually 
two  memoirs  :  one  of  Mr.  Milnor  as  a  man  of  the  world,  and  another 
of  Dr.  Milnor  as  a  Christian  man.  The  former  could  not  with  pro- 
priety be  omitted,  because,  though  a  distinct  life  by  itself,  with  its  own 
principles,  character,  and  acts  in  full  development,  yet  it  is  important 
to  a  just  appreciation  of  the  latter.  In  some  things,  Dr.  Milnor  as  a 
Christian,  is  very  like  Mr.  Milnor  as  a  worldly  man ;  in  others,  quite 
unlike.  These  lights  of  likeness  and  of  contrast  combine,  or  stand  out  in 
distinctness,  to  give  us  the  true  idea  of  the  whole  man.  Even  the  false 
and  dangerous  notions  of  religion  which  he .  entertained  in  his  days  of 
darkness  and  self-righteousness,  help  to  set  forth  in  stronger  colors  those 
right  conceptions  of  divine  truth  to  which  he  was  led  by  the  great  crisis 
of  his  life.  Those,  however,  to  whom  the  details  of  his  early  history 
would  be  likely  to  prove  uninteresting,  and  who  have  known,  or  wish  to 
contemplate  him  as  a  Christian  only,  will  find  the  former  part  of  the 
work  as  brief  as  it  could  weU  be  made,  and  wiU  not  have  to  turn  over 
many  pages  before  they  reach  what  will  more  specially  meet  their 
wishes,  and  it  may  be,  satisfy  their  desires. 

And  now,  all  that  remains  is  to  say,  that  although  the  writer  has 
felt  that  he  was  dealing  with  a  character  of  uncommon  excellence,  yet 
he  has  not  felt  that  he  was  writing  the  life  of  a  perfect  being.  However 
much,  therefore,  he  has  found  in  that  character  to  commend,  he  has  en- 
deavored not  so  to  shape  his  commendations  as  to  make  the  praise  redoimd 
to  the  man,  instead  of  Him  from  Mchom  alone  cometh  every  good,  and  to 
whom  alone,  especially  in  the  results  of  Christian  excellence,  all  praise 
i£  due. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

HIS  EARLY  LIFE,  LEGAL  PRACTICE,  AND  POLITICAL  CAREER. 

Section  I. — Quaker  parentage — Family  history — ^Youthful  traits — Education 
— Law  studies — ^Yellow-fever  of  '93 — Admittance  to  the  bar — Debating 
societies — Commences  practice  at  Norristown — Freemasonry — Return  to 
Philadelphia — Early  Abolition  Society — Fire  Department — ^Yellow-fever 
of  '98 — Retreat  to  Norristown — Marriage — Read  out  of  Quaker  meeting — 
Reasons  for  keeping  a  diary — Character  as  a  lawyer — Incidents  of  legal 
life — An  honest  lawyer — Business  habits — Affecting  incident — Value  of 
business  habits — A  fashionable  man  of  the  world,      .         .         .         ,11 

Section  II. — Entrance  on  political  life — Diary — Member  of  city-council — 
Troublesome  political  editor— The  elder  Adams — French  Jacobinism — 
Milnor's  popularity — Election  to  Congress^ — Takes  his  seat  in  the  House — 
First  winter's  letters  from  Washington — Speech  in  Congress — Summer  of 
1811 — Second  winter  in  Washington — Extracts  ffom  letters — Speech — 
Dinner  with  the  President — War  fever — Washington  gayeties  and  war 
debates — Mode  of  life — Domestic  feelings — Prospect  of  long  session — Gout 
— Secret  debates — War  impends — Is  declared — Address  of  the  Federalists — 
Eventful  speech — Philadelphia  newspaper  report — Difficulty  with  Henry 
Clay — Challenge — Correspondence — Review — Third  winter  in  Washing- 
ton— Extracts  from  letters — Speech — Political  excitement — Grand  national 
ball — Political  asperities — Quincy's  severe  speech — Short  session — Ad- 
journment— Gout — Close  of  political  life, 44 

PART  11. 

HISTORY  OF  HIS  RELIGIOUS  CHANGE. 

Section  I. — Early  moral  traits — Aquila  M.  Bolton — Serious  letters — Mr. 
Milnor's  remarks  thereon — Milnor  a  Universalist — Examination  of  the 
Christian  evidences,  and  study  of  the  Bible — Universalism  renounced — A 
rational  believer — Dependence  on  works — Second  diary — Attendance  on 
Presbyterian  ministry — Probable  influence  of  Bolton's  letters — Begins  to 
attend  Episcopal  Church — Feeling  after  truth — New-year's  reflections, 
1810 — Forms  of  prayer — ^Dr.  Pilmore — Election  to  Vestry  of  Associated 
Churches — Hearing  sermons — Inward  struggle — Views  of  the  Sabbath — 
First  recorded  prayer — Influence  of  early  Quakerism — Review  of  religious 
progress  to  1812 — General  Convention  at  New  Haven,       .        .        .85 


6  CONTENTS. 

Section  II. — Thomas  Bradford — Anecdote  in  a  law-office — Remarkable  inci- 
dent— Religious  letters  from  Congress  to  Mrs.  Milnor — A  praying  Con- 
gressman— Religious  letters  continued — Weariness  of  politics — Solemn 
morning  walk,  Dec.  22,  1812 — Unfriendly  influence  of  politics,    .      .     110 

Section  III. — Correspondence  with.  Thomas  Bradford — Letters — Epistolary 
account  of  conversion — Views  of  death — Letters  to  Mrs.  Milnor — Solici- 
tude for  her  conversion — Struggles  with  the  world — ^Review,    .         .133 

PART  III. 

HIS  MINISTRY  FROM  1814  TO  1830. 

Section  I. — Theological  studies — Norristown — Lay-reader — Reflections  on  a 
change  of  profession — Prayer — Rules  of  life  and  study  at  Norristown — 
Visit  to  Rev.  Mr.  Bull — Journey  into  Virginia — Dangerous  illness — Invi- 
tations to  Baltimore  and  Richmond — Replies — Praying  spirit — Return  to 
Philadelphia — Temporal  afi"airs — ' '  Evangelical  Society ' ' — Letter  to  Aquila 
M.  Bolton — Preparatory  studies  completed — Examinations — Ordination — 
First  sermon — Assistant  in  the  Associated  Churches — Ordained  Presbyter — 
Interest  in  the  Bible  cause — Letter  to  an  afflicted  mother — Correspondence 
in  reference  to  St.  George's,  New  York — Call — Visit  to  New  York — ^Letter 
from  Bishop  White — Acceptance  of  the  Rectorship  of  St.  George's — Settle- 
ment in  New  York, 177 

Section  II. — American  Bible  Society — Correspondence  with  a  doubting  par- 
ishioner, and  a  cavilling  inquirer — Opening  of  new  Sunday-school  rooms — 
Murmurs — Letter  to  Mr.  Mcllvaine — Glance  from  1817  to  1821 — Ingenu 
ous  acknowledgment — Glance  to  1825 — ^Perilous  illness — Religious  exer- 
cises— Public  sympathy — Letter  to  Mr.  Mcllvaine — Account  of  illness  by 
Dr.  Stearns  and  Wm.  H.  Milnor — Origin  of  American  Tract  Society — Sick 
chamber — Mr.  Hallock — Espovisal  of  Tract  cause — First  sermon  after  re- 
covery— Public  organization  of  Tract  Society — Dr.  Milnor's  agency — Del- 
egation from  New  York  to  Boston — Dr.  Woods,  .         .         .         .218 

Section  III. — 1825.  Letters  to  a  theological  student — Bishop  Hobart's  return 
from  Europe — Letter  touching  that  return.  1826.  Letters  to  Prof.  Mcll- 
vaine during  the  revival  at  West  Point — Letter  to  the  student  touching  his 
Fourth  of  July  address — Backslider  reclaimed — General  Convention  of 
1826.     1827.  State  of  St.  George's — Dangerous  accident  in  returning  from 

•  Flushing— Death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Duffie.  1828.  State  of  St.  George's— Mil- 
nor Professorship.  1829.  Course  of  lectures — " Protestant  Episcopal  Cler- 
ical Association  of  New  York."  1830.  Letters  to  Wra.  H.  Milnor,  and  Rev. 
J.  P.  K.  Henshaw — African  Mission  school — ^Review,       .        .         .     250 

PART  IV. 

MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.    1830. 

Section  I. — American  origin  of  the  idea — Action  of  St.  George's  Vestry — 

Views  of  Dr.  Milnor  in  accepting  the  appointment — Engagements  on  the 

eve  of  departure — Instructions  and  commissions — Embarkation — Extracts 

from  journal  of  voyage— Reaches  Liverpool, 299 


CONTENTS.  7 

Section  II. — Liverpool — Mr.  Sands — Curious  chair — Deaf  and  dumb  instruc- 
tion— Birmingham — Dr.  Squiers — Mr.  Gillet — Dinner  at  the  high-bailiff's 
— Clergy  of  Birmingham — Dr.  Kewley  a  Jesuit — ^First  Sabbath  in  England 
— ^Rev.  Mr.  Morgan — J.  A.  James — Journey  to  London — Arrival,      .     312 

Section  III. — London — Bible  Society's  House — Mr.  Brandram — Lord  Teign- 
mouth — Bromley  and  Beckenham — Auxiliary  anniversary — Clergymen's 
widows — Dinner  at  Mr.  Inglis' — Dr.  Parker — Woolwich  grounds — Royal 
marquee — First  Sabbath  in  London — Bishop  Blomfield — Preachers  charac- 
terized-— British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society — Counsellor  Marriott — Relig- 
ious Tract  Society — St.  Bartholomew's,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkinson — British 
Museum,  and  T.  Hartwell  Home — Samuel  Charles  Wilkes — Zachary  Mac- 
auley — Methodist  Missionary  House — Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society, 
and  Mr.  Pritchett — Irish  Society  Anniversary — Hibernian  Society — Statis- 
tics— Second  Sabbath  in  London — Bridewell  chapel,  St.  Paul's,  and  Fleet- 
street — The  Rev.  Mr.  Denham, 317 

Section  IV. — Week  of  the  great  Anniversaries — Monday,  May  3,  Wesleyan 
Missionary  Society — Dinner  at  Mr.  Haslope's — Tuesday,  Church  Mission- 
ary Society — Dinner  at  Mr.  Solicitor  Forster's — ^Wednesday,  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society — Lord  Bexley,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  Bishop  of 
Chester,  Mr.  Wilbcrforce,  Dr.  Milnor,  Hon.  Charles  Grant,  M.  P.,  Daniel 
Wilson,  etc. — ^Introduction  to  the  Bishops — Dinner  at  Mr.  Williams' — Re- 
ligious exercises — Thursday,  Clerical  breakfast — Tract  Society's  western 
meeting — Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society — Dr.  Milnor's  speech — Dinner 
at  Mr.  Bickersteth's — Literary  company — ^Friday,  Clerical  breakfast — Lon- 
don Jews'  Society — Dinner  at  Mr.  Hatchard's — Saturday,  Rural  scene  at 
Clapham — Mr.  Gilliat — Mr.  Mcllvaine's  arrival — Blackheath  Branch  Bi- 
ble Society — Third  Sabbath  in  London, 331 

Section  V. — Further  Anniversaries — Religious  exercises  of  the  week,  at 
breakfasts  and  dinners — Baptist  Noel  and  Waltham-stow — Critique  on 
country  residences — Daniel  Wilson,  and  breakfast  at  Islington — Lord  Bex- 
ley — Anniversary  of  the  Reformation  Society — Bishop  of  Winchester,  and 
St.  James'  Square — Guernsey  custom — Capt.  Gordon,  and  St.  James'  Place 
— Discussion  revived — Animated  scene  at  one  of  the  anniversaries — Clark- 
son,  Wilberforce,  and  others — Mr.  Ewbank  and  Mr.  Peckham,  .     343 

Section  VI. — Sabbath  at  Camberwell — Melvill — Dulwich  College — Green- 
wich Hospital — Breakfast  at  J.  Haldane  Stewart's — Caledonian  chapel, 
and  Dr.  Chalmers — Social  engagements — Woolwich,  and  Dr.  Gregory — 
Sabbath  at  Paul's  Cray,  and  John  Symonds — Institution  for  Deaf  and 
Dumb,  and  Mr.  Watson — Dinner  at  Zachary  Macauley's — Views  of  Millen- 
arians,  Irving,  McNeile — Interesting  intercourse  with  Daniel  Wilson  at 
Islington — Stoke-Newington,  and  Dr.  Watts — Business  with  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society — Charity-school  Anniversary  at  St.  Paul's — Joseph  John 
Gurney — Sunday  thoughts  of  home — Trait  in  morals — Visits  about  London 
— Missionary  institution  at  Islington — Professors  Pearson,  Ayre,  and  Lee — 
Daughter  of  Legh  Richmond — Turvey — William  Allen,  and  Stoke-Newing- 
ton— Hannah  Kilham — Accident  and  peril — Sufferings,    .         .         .     353 

Section  VII. — Visit  to  Paris — Accident  on  the  Thames — From  Calais  to 
Paris — Beggars — Paris — Catholic  service  at  St.  Roche's — Vaults  under  the 


8  CONTENTS. 

Pantheon — Bishop  Luscomh — Visits  to  distinguished  citizens — Professor 
Kieffer — M.  Monod  fils — Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumh — Sunday  in 
Paris — Paroxysm  of  gout — Teacher  for  the  New  York  Institution  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumh — Mons.  and  Mad.  Serrurier — Reminiscence  of  political 
life — M.  Vaysse,  Jr. — Dinner  with  M.  Vaysse,  Sen. — Literary  company — 
Symptoms  of  revolution — Versailles — Return  to  England,         .         .     376 

Section  VIII. — Visit  to  Isle  of  Wight — Contrast  between  France  and  Eng- 
land— Sabbath  at  Ryde — Mr.  Sibthorpe — Scenery — Tomb  of  "  Little  Jane  " 
— Brading  church — Sandown  bay — Scenery  of  '•  African  Servant" — ^Natu- 
ralness of  Legh  Richmond's  descriptions — Shanklin-Chine — Reading  of 
"The  Young  Cottager" — Bonchurch  and  UnderclifF — Appuldercomb — 
Scenery  of  "Dairyman's  Daughter" — Dairyman's  cottage — Arreton  church 
— Newport — Mr.  Mcllvaine  ill — Trip  to  Southampton — Western  tour — 
Carisbrook  castle — Clerical  mayor — Shorwell — Scenery — Freshwater-gate 
— Caverns — The  Needles — Return  to  Newport,        ....     385 

Section  IX. — Departure  from  the  Isle  of  Wight — Tour  through  England, 
Wales,  and  Ireland — Southampton — Winchester,  cathedral  and  school — 
Exeter — Scenery — Expensive  road — Humorous  signboards — Ilfracombe — 
Romantic  position — Ancient  church — Linton — Striking  scenery — Porlock — 
Amusing  colloquy  with  an  Innkeeper — Progress  to  Bristol — Mr.  Prust — 
Clifton — Robert  Hall — Visit  to  Hannah  More — Bishop  Hobart's  letter  on 
Dr.  Milnor's  speech — Controversy  in  New  York — Dr.  Milnor's  reply — Mr. 
Pritchett's  letter — Other  letters — Departure  from  Bristol — Election  mob — 
The  four  daughters  of  Droitwich — Election  canvass  at  Bridgenorth — Rot- 
ten borough  system — Lovely  scenery — Beautiful  vale  of  Llangollen^-Ro- 
mantic  scenery — Welsh  language — Passage  of  the  moiintains — Snowden — 
Magnificent  scenery — Bangor — Suspension  bridge  over  Menai  Strait — An- 
glesea — Holyhead — Embarkation — Sleep  in  a  storm — Janting-car — Dublin 
— ^Rainy  ride  to  Belfast,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .395 

Section  X. — Tour  through  Scotland,  and  north  of  England — Arrival  at  Glas- 
gow— Contrast  with  Ireland — Institutions  of  Glasgow — Statistics — Social 
engagements — Temperance  meeting — Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution — Depart- 
ure for  Edinburgh — Dr.  Byrne,  and  the  General  Assembly — A  Scotch  dis- 
cussion— John  Sheppard — Mrs.  Sheppard  and  Lord  Byron — Long  walk  to 
Arthur's  seat — Dr.  Chalmers — Episcopal  clergy — Breakfast  at  Dr.  Chal- 
mers'— Discussion — Holyrood  House — Asylum  for  Deaf  and  Dumb — Jour- 
ney among  the  Cheviot  Hills — Assize  Court  at  Carlisle — Lake  scenery — 
Kendal  and  Manchester — School  for  Deaf  and  Dumb — Sabbath  in  Man- 
chester— The  Rev.  Mr.  Stowell — Remarkable  Infant-school  teacher — Jour- 
ney to  Sheffield — Derbyshire  scenery — Sheffield — Montgomery — Social  and 
religious  scenes — Bible  Society  meeting — Valuable  acquaintances — Vicar 
of  Sheffield — Affecting  parting  with  Montgomery — Touching  reminiscence 
— Return  to  London, 429 

Section  XI. — Business  engagements- — Recurrence  to  Bishop  Hobart's  letter- 
Adieus  of  the  Bible  Society — Lord  Bexley — Parting  dinner  with  Zachary 
Macauley — Robert  Owen  and  his  schemes — William  Allen — Parting  din- 
ner -wath  Lord  Bexley — Visit  to  Cambridge — Prof.  Farish — Mr.  Simeon — 
Pleasant  traA'elling  companion — Anecdote — Parting  A'isit  to  Lord  Teign- 


CONTENTS.  9 

mouth — Departure  from  London — Mrs.  Dixon  of  Henley — Religion  at  an 
inn — Oxford — Embarkation  at  Liverpool,  27th  of  September — Reception  in 
New  York — Reputation  of  Dr.  Milnor  in  England — Results  of  mission,  446 

PART  V. 

HIS  MINISTRY  FROM  1830  TO  1845. 

Section  L — Kenyon  College,  and  Milnor  Professorship — J.  M.  West — State 
of  St.  George's — Letter  to  a  clerical  correspondent — Clerical  removals — 
Literary  Convention — Letters  to  his  son — Cholera  season — Eleanor's  ill- 
ness— Journey  into  Maine — Extracts  from  letters — Letter  to  his  son  against 
entering  the  Navy — Letter  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine — Bristol  College — Mission 
to  Green  Bay — Illustrative  letters — Results  of  the  mission,       .         . .  460 

Section  II. — Letter  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine — Episcopal  periodicals — Visit  to 
Boston,  Massachusetts  Convention — General  Convention,  1835 — Reorgani- 
zation of  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society — Secretary  and  Gene- 
ral Agent — Generosity — The  Rev.  J.  W.  Cooke — Labors  as  Secretary  and 
General  Agent — Reappointment  declined — Influence  on  our  Mission.s — 
Letters  during  his  Secretaryship — Proposed  mission  to  Persia — Tour  to 
Cleveland — Ohio  Convention — Letters  on  his  tour — Close  of  labor  as  Sec- 
retary and  General  Agent, 488 

Section  III. — Rev.  Mr.  Cooke — Letters  from  Lord  Bexley  and  Montgomery — 
Tractarianism — Letter  against  withdrawing  from  our  Missionary  organiza- 
tion, etc. — Letter  to  Bishop  Smith  on  Church  views — Board  of  Missions 
at  Baltimore — Letter  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine — Letter  to  H.  Van  Wagenen — 
General  Convention,  1838 — Division  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York — Northern 
tour  with  Bishop  Meade, 510 

Section  IV. — Case  of  G.  Y. — Illustrative  letters — Results  of  Dr.  Milnor's 
efforts  to  save  a  fallen  youth — Oxford  Tract  controversy — Letter  to  Bishop 
Mcllvaine — Gloomy  forebodings — Charge  on  Justification — From  Dr.  Spar- 
row, resigning  the  Milnor  Professorship— To  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  "  Oxford 
Divinity," 527 

Section  V. — Letter  to  Dr.  Beasley — Visit  to  Alexandria — Letter  from  the 
Bishop  of  Calcutta — Splendid  tribute  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine's  "Oxford  Di- 
vinity"— Answer — From  Bishop  Meade,  Missions  to  Western  Asia — Let- 
ter to  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  Dr.  Fuller  appointed  "  Milnor  Professor  " — Mary- 
land State  Colonization  Society — Carey  Ordination— Letters  from  Bishops 
Meade  and  Smith — Semi-annual  Bible  Society  meeting  at  Cincmnati — Dr. 
Milnor  appointed  to  read  an  essay  on  "  The  Rule  of  Faith  " — Letter  to 
Bishop  Smith,  Oxfordism — Stormy  Convention  in  New  York,  1843 — Busi- 
ness at  Buffalo — Letter  from  Dr.  Aydelott,  Dr.  Spring's  essay  on  "  The  Rule 
of  Faith" — The  Rev.  P.  P.  Irving  Assistant  at  St.  George's — Letter  from 
J.  Haldane  Stewart,         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     553 

Section  VI. — Dangerous  attack  of  gout,  1844 — Letters  on  recovery,  from  Mr. 
Irving,  Bishop  Eastburn,  and  W.  H.  Walter — From  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta 
— From  Bishop  Mcllvaine — Love  of  repose — Visit  to  Middle  Haddam — 
Heavy  domestic  affliction — General  Convention  of  1844 — Ecclesiastical 
trial — Dr.  Milnor's  testimony — Latin  letter — Bishop  Smith's  tribute  to  Dr. 


10  CONTENTS. 

Milnor's  conduct  at  the  trial — Wm.  H.  Milnor's  "  Recollections  " — Long- 
ings for  repose,  not  for  inaction — Free  chapel  movement — Mr.  Irving' s 
letter — Action  of  the  Vestry — Vigorous  old  age — Impressive  incident  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution — Sudden  death 
— Wm.  H.  Milnor's  account  of  the  closing  scene — Habitual  preparation  for 
sudden  death — Public  demonstrations  of  grief — The  funeral — Discourses 
on  his  death,  ...........     575 

PART  VI. 

RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER. 

1 .  His  connection  with  the  Bible  Society — Principle  of  action. — Dr.  Brigham's 
statement — Influence  of  Dr.  Milnor  in  the  Society.  2.  His  connection 
■with  the  Tract  Society — Carrying  out  of  principle  of  action — Mr.  Hallock's 
statement — Illustrative  documents — Preciousness  of  Dr.  Milnor's  name  in 
the  Tract  cause.  3.  His  connection  with  the  cause  of  Education.  4.  His 
position  in  the  Episcopal  Church — A  sketch — Prominence  of  Dr.  Milnor  in 
the  Evangelical  cause — His  relation  to  the  Church  at  large,  and  to  the 
Diocese  of  New  York  in  particular — Anecdotes.  5.  Traits  of  character — 
Illustrative  anecdotes  and  views — Intellectual  traits — Theological  traits — 
Pulpit  traits— Dr.  Cutler's  sermon — Domestic  traits,  hospitality,  cheerful- 
ness, the  Christian  gentleman,  benevolence — Mr.  Peet's  sermon — Death  to 
the  good  man  never  sudden — Anecdotes — Habits  of  sermon-writing,  and 
pastoral  duty — Favorite  allegory — Idea  of  true  Catholicism — Indifference 
to  official  elevation — Close,      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .597 


MEMOIR. 


PART   I. 

EARLY  LIFE,  LEGAL  PRACTICE,  AND  POLITICAL  CAREER. 

SECTION   I. 

It  is  peculiar  to  the  true  children  of  God,  that  before  they 
reach  that  perfect  life  which  awaits  them  in  heaven,  they  will 
have  lived  two  blessed  and  beneficent  lives  on  earth.  This  made 
the  apostle  say  of  the  faith  of  Abel,  "  By  it  he,  being  dead,  yet 
speaketh."  For  thousands  of  years,  men  have  had  a  knowledge 
of  the  name,  and  faith,  and  gracious  acceptance  of  that  early 
saint.  Through  that  whole  period,  indeed,  he  has  been  sleeping 
among  the  dead.  Yet  has  he  all  the  while  had  a  most  precious 
life  among  the  living.  In  the  experience  of  eminent  saints,  the 
one  of  these  two  lives  is,  at  the  longest,  short ;  the  other  is,  at 
the  shortest,  long.  The  one  is  spent  by  the  living  among  the 
living ;  the  other  oometh  up  to  the  living  from  among  the  dead. 
The  one  is  the  light  of  labor,  and  example,  and  influence,  mov- 
ing rapidly  towards  the  grave ;  the  other  is  the  power  of  faith, . 
and  love,  and  suffering,  coming  back  in  perennial  memories  from 
the  tomb.  In  the  one,  the  faithful  may  see  rich  fruits  from  the 
short  summer  of  their  toils  ;  in  the  other,  they  will  hear  of  fruits 
richer  still,  because  so  many  ages  shall  lie  within  their  harvest- 
time.  In  the  former,  faith  sometimes  does  its  work,  like  Abel's, 
in  one  great  sacrifice ;  in  the  latter,  that  faith,  living  in  some 
God-inspired  record,  often  carries  on  its  work  through  long  gen- 
erations, and  over  distant  realms. 

To  those  who  have  finished  well  the  former  of  these  two  lives, 
religious  biography  seeks  to  secure  the  most  beneficial  results  of 


12  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR 

the  latter  ;  and  whether  that  biography  swell  to  volumes,  or  be 
but  as  the  brief  paragraph  which  has  brought  down  to  our  know- 
ledge the  triumph  of  Abel's  faith,  yet,  if  it  include  all  and  only 
what  God  would  keep  alive,  it  doeth  excellent  work,  and  shall 
have  unfailing  fruits.  The  writer  will  add  but  this,  that  such 
is  the  work  which  he  would  fain  do  in  penning  the  following 
memoir. 

James  Milnor,  late  rector  of  St.  George's  church,  New  York, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  20th  day  of  June, 
1773.  His  immediate  ancestors  belonged  to  the  society  of 
Friends ;  his  father  and  mother,  "William  and  Anna  Brientnall 
Milnor,  being  by  birth  and  education  members  of  that  respecta- 
ble body.  Family  tradition  reports  that  they  were  both  descend- 
ants of  the  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  has  treasured  facts 
showing  that  they  were  worthy  of  their  descent. 

Without  attempting  to  trace  minutely  the  genealogy  of  the 
family,  it  may  still  be  proper  to  bestow  some  notice  upon  those 
with  whom  Dr.  Milnor  was  immediately  connected. 

His  father  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  settled  early 
near  Falsington,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  subsequently 
removed  to  his  native  state,  and  finally  fixed  himself  with  his 
household  in  Philadelphia.  The  original  orthography  of  the 
family  name  was  Milner,  and  so  it  is  still  written  in  England. 
When  the  subject  of  this  memoir  visited  England,  he  found 
the  Milners  numerous  in  Lancashire.  The  name  was  changed 
to  Milnor  by  the  early  pioneers  of  the  family  in  this  country. 

William  Milnor,  the  father  of  the  late  rector  of  St.  George's, 
shared  largely  the  respect  of  his  people  and  acquaintances.  To 
the  plain  manners  and  characteristic  integrity  of  the  Friends, 
he  added  great  energy  and  a  cheerful  disposition.  His  cheerful- 
ness was  often  tried,  but  never  overcome,  by  that  trying  disorder 
to  which  he  was  a  victim,  the  gout.  Dr.  Milnor  has  often  been 
heard  to  say,  that  his  father  always  preserved  his  equanimity  of 
temper,  even  when  suffering  the  most  violent  paroxysms  of  his 
disorder.  He  related  that,  under  a  peculiarly  agonizing  fit,  his 
father  was  once  sitting  with  his  feet  on  a  pillow,  swathed  in 
flannel,  and  too  tender  to  be  touched  without  distressing  pain, 
when  his  daughter's  dress,  in  her  attempt  to  reach  something  on 


HIS  EARLY  LIFE.  13 

the  mantel,  took  fire.  Upon  rushing  into  the  room,  he  found  the 
old  gentleman,  wholly  unconscious  of  pain,  busily  stamping  out 
the  flames  with  his  gouty  feet.  In  truth,  the  gout  had  left  him  ; 
nighly  delighted,  too,  with  the  suddenness  of  his  cure.  The 
next  day,  however,  his  delight  ended  in  bitter  disappointment ; 
for  his  disorder  not  only  returned,  but  came  back  with  strong 
reinforcements  of  violence. 

According  to  the  wholesome  custom  of  those  good  old  days, 
which  provided  every  young  man  some^  sure  means  of  livelihood, 
William  Milnor  was  early  bred  to  the  handicraft  of  a  cooper ; 
but  developing  talents  for  other  pursuits,  he  soon  engaged  in 
trade,  and  at  the  period  which  introduced  the  Revolution,  was 
extensively  engaged  in  a  fishery.  At  the  same  time,  he  was 
factor  to  Col.  Washington  of  Mount  Vernon ;  and  a  valuable  cor- 
respondence, now  in  possession  of  the  Milnor  family,  shows  that 
for  sound  judgment  and  strict  integrity,  he  enjoyed  largely  the 
confidence  of  that  great  man.  From  one  of  the  letters  in  this 
correspondence,  it  appears  that  they  had  a  joint  interest  in  one 
of  the  fisheries.  "  I  have  not  been  unmindful  of  my  promise," 
writes  Col.  Washington,  "  in  respect  to  the  fish-house.  Before 
the  next  season,  I  shall  have  one  erected  for  your  accommo- 
dation, not  doubting  but  it  may  turn  out  to  both  our  advan- 
tages." ' 

The  salting  of  fish  appears  to  have  been,  even  then,  an  exten- 
sive business  in  this  country.  Inspectors  of  these  articles  were 
appointed  by  several  of  the  local  governments  ;  and  in  Philadel- 
phia, this  post  was  held  by  William  Milnor.  It  is  important  to 
note  his  connection  in  business  with  Col.  Washington,  as  proof 
of  his  high  character,  and  as  having  had  no  little  influence  on 
his  subsequent  life.  When  the  drama  of  the  Revolution  opened, 
his  patriotism  took  fire ;  and  in  spite  of  the  discipline  of  the 
Friends,  which  is  opposed  to  all  war,  defensive  as  well  as  aggres- 
sive, he  at  once  applied  for  a  commission  in  the  army.  His 
attachment  to  his  old  friend,  who  had  by  this  time  become 
General  Washington,  was  perhaps  the  spark  which  kindled  his 
patriotism  into  a  flame,  and  made  so  painful  the  disappointment 
which  awaited  him.  The  reasons  for  withdrawing  his  applica- 
tion for  a  commission  are  stated  in  the  following  letter. 


14  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

To  Gen.  George  Washington,  January,  1776. 

"  Honorable  Sir — Your  very  kind  favor  of  the  20th  of  De- 
cember came  safe  to  hand,  and  gave  me  great  relief.  I  am 
happy,  inasmuch  as  I  have  not  displeased  your  excellency  in  my 
conduct  so  far.  I  am  unhappy,  however,  because  I  cannot  get 
into  the  army.  I  had  thrown  in  a  petition  for  a  captaincy,  and 
had  the  greatest  prospect  of  success.  Mr.  Franklin,  in  conse- 
quence of  your  letter,  had  made  the  way  clear  for  me ;  my 
spirits  were  elevated,  and  there  appeared  nothing  in  view  that 
could  stop  me.  My  wife,  from  continued  assurances  of  my 
unalterable  intention  of  going,  had  got  nearly  reconciled  to  it. 
But  alas,  a  few  days  before  the  appointment  of  officers,  the  old 
ferry  was  to  be  let.  ,  I  was  immediately  surrounded  by  my 
friends,  insisting  that  there  was  no  fitter  person  for  that  busi- 
ness than  myself;  and  as  it  was  a  place  of  profit,  I  ought,  in 
consideration  of  my  large  family,  to  prefer  being  with  them  to 
going  abroad  on  any  terms.  Their  reasonings,  together  with 
the  entreaties  of  my  dear  partner,  prevailed  on  me  to  withdraw 
my  petition,  and  I  am  now  a  drudge  at  the  old  ferry,  within  two 
doors  of  where  I  formerly  lived  in  Water-street.  /  thank  my 
God,  he  has  g-iven  me  a  persevering  disposition,  equal  to  any 
task  he  is  pleased  to  lay  upon  me  in  this  life.  I  never  found  any 
prospect  of  fatigue  an  annoyance  to  any  undertaking,  when  a 
probability  of  a  good,  genteel  sustenance  for  my  little  flock 
offered  in  view;  and  this  business  would  be  a  very  agreeable 
one  to  me,  if  these  unhappy  disturbances  were  at  an  end.  But 
I  cannot  conclude  this  letter  until  I  have  assured  your  excel- 
lency, that  /  shall  remain  a  poor,  unhappy  wretch,  as  long  as  I 
am  chained,  and  cannot  take  an  active  part  in  my  country's 
cause.  Whether  a  true  patriotic  concern  for  my  country,  or 
secret  thirst  after  honor,  or  both  combined,  is  the  spring  by 
which  my  spirits  are  actuated,  I  have  the  vanity  to  believe  that 
the  former  is  the  chief  motive,  and  that  only  experience  is 
wanted  to  make  me  a  soldier.  I  sometimes  please  myself  by 
thinking,  that,  when  my  wife  has  gained  experience  in  our  pres- 
ent business,  and  if  the  troubles  should  increase  in  the  ensuing 
summer  as  it  seems  probable  they  will,  I  will  place  some  steady 
hand  to  assist  her,  and  again  offer  myself  to  my  country." 


HIS  EARLY  LIFE.  15 

In  this  letter  breathes  the  true  spirit  of  '76 ;  and  to  those 
who  were  well  acquainted  with  Dr.  Milnor,  it  will  be  evident 
that  one  at  least  of  the  characteristic  traits  of  the  father — his 
inflexible,  self-relying  perseverance  in  any  high  and  worthy  pur- 
suit— was  largely  inherited  by  the  son.  Although  the  former 
was  constrained  to  abandon  his  suit  for  a  commission  in  the 
army,  yet  he  by  no  means  remained  idle  during  the  great  strug- 
gle on  which  his  country  was  then  entering.  Even  his  position 
at  the  "  old  ferry,"  in  his  plain,  (Quaker  garb,  gave  him  no  poor 
facilities  for  acquiring  important  information  of  the  enemy's 
movements  ;  and  of  those  facilities  he  made  the  most.  He  was 
one  of  the  many,  whom  the  clear-judging  Washington  had  the 
good  fortune  to  attach  to  him,  whose  humble  names  have  long 
since  been  forgotten  ;  but  whose  services,  as  in  other  matters,  so 
especially  in  transmitting  by  various  channels  intelligence  of 
great  value  to  the  cause  of  the  struggling  colonies,  were  truly 
invaluable. 

About  the  "  old  ferry,"  Mr.  Milnor  usually  drove  a  chaise 
with  an  ingenious  false  bottom ;  so  that,  though  often  suspected 
of  being  in  the  interests  of  the  revolutionists,  yet  he  was  never 
detected  by  the  enemy.  Twice,  indeed,  he  was  obliged  to  fly 
for  his  life ;  but  the  same  good  Providence  which  guided  and 
guarded  Washington,  preserved  him  harmless  to  the  close  of  the 
conflict.  His  services  were  not  confined  to  the  conveyance  of 
intelligence :  he  did  much  towards  furnishing  supplies  for  the 
patriot  army. 

His  conduct  during  the  Revolution,  of  course  gave  great 
offence  to  "the  heads  of  meeting,"  and  he  was  formally  dis- 
owned. After  the  peace  he,  with  other  Friends  similarly  situ- 
ated, formed  the  society  some  time  known  in  Philadelphia  as 
"  The  Free  and  Independent  Quakers."  Their  place  of  meeting 
was  for  many  years  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Arch  streets.  A 
few  years  before  his  death  he  was  reunited  to  the  regular  body, 
and  died  in  the  society's  connection,  at  the  age  of  73.  His  wife 
had  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  Both,  however,  lived  long  enough 
to  see  their  country  in  peace  and  prosperity,  and  their  youngest 
son  settled  in  life,  and  as  a  lawyer  rising  rapidly  to  wealth  and 
honor.     At  his  death  the  father  held  the  office  of  city  ganger, 


16  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  which,  it  appears,  he  had  been  appointed  immediately  after 
the  peace,  in  consideration  of  his  past  services.  It  was,  at  that 
time,  an  important  and  lucrative  office ;  and  after  his  decease, 
was  continued  to  his  son  Isaac,  and  to  his  grandson  Robert. 

The  children  of  the  family  were  five,  two  daughters  ana 
three  sons.  The  elder  of  the  two  daughters  died  at  middle  age. 
The  younger,  who  was  also  the  youngest  child,  was  married  to 
Dr.  Joseph  Klapp,  a  physician  of  eminence  in  Philadelphia; 
and  after  a  life  of  sufiering  from  a  painful  disease,  borne  with 
Christian  patience,  died  a  few  years  before  her  favorite  brother 
James.  • 

Of  the  sons,  Isaac,  the  oldest,  was  a  merchant,  and  a  man 
of  strong  mind  and  great  energy.  He  died  at  middle  age,  of  an 
acute  attack  of  the  gout.  William  junior  was  also  a  merchant, 
and  stood  high  in  the  community.  At  one  time  he  represented 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  Congress.  He  was  author  of  some 
political  pamphlets  popular  in  their  day ;  in  later  life  was  ap- 
pointed mayor  of  Philadelphia ;  and  on  retiring  from  office,  was 
elected  one  of  the  aldermen.  When  his  brother  James  was  in 
Congress,  he  thus  wrote  from  Washington  in  a  letter  to  his 
wife  :  "  Gentlemen  of  the  "first  respectability  for  talents  here 
speak  of  brother  William  as  a  man  of  great  strength  of  mind, 
and  a  pleasing  and  sensible  speaker  in  the  House.  They  regret 
his  non-reelection."  In  religious  sentiments  William  was,  until 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  a  Presbyterian ;  but  he  finally 
united  with  the  Episcopal  church  in  Burlington,  N.  J.,  whither 
he  had  removed.  He  was  exceedingly  attached  to  his  brother 
James,  and  it  was  evident  to  the  family  that  his .  death  was 
hastened  by  his  grief  for  that  dear  brother's  decease.  He  died 
about  a  year  after  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

In  passing,  now,  from  these  brief  notices  of  the  ancestry,  and 
of  the  family  kindred  of  James  Milnor,  to  a  detail  of  particulars 
in  the  life  of  this  beloved  "  man  of  God,"  we  find,  as  in  other 
cases,  little  in  his  childhood  that  calls  for  record.  His  schoolboy 
days  seem  to  have  been  bright  and  happy,  because  moral  and 
industrious.  At  the  Pennsylvania  grammar-school,  in  his  native 
city,  he  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education ;  and  at  an  early 
age  entered  the  university  of  Pennsylvania.     One  of  his  surviv 


HIS   EARLY  LIFE.  17 

ing  school  and  playmates,  still  living  amid  the  scenes  of  their 
childhood,  remembers  well,  that  when  a  boy  he  was  distinguished 
for  the  very  traits  which  characterized  him  as  a  man,  especially 
for  soundness  of  judgment  and  kindness  of  disposition.  By  a 
sort  of  tacit  election  among  his  school-fellows,  James  Milnor  was 
early  raised  to  two  important  posts  of  distinction ;  that  of  judge 
in  their  boyish  controversies,  and  that  of  a  student  for  his  class- 
mates, whenever  it  was  thfeir  purpose  to  let  play  trench  on  the 
hours  of  study.  They  willingly  submitted  to  his  judgment  in 
the  former  capacity,  because  confident  his  decisions  would  be 
^  just ;  while  they  gladly  availed  themselves  of  his  diligence  in 
the  latter,  because  certain  that  the  lessons  which  he  prepared 
for  them  to  copy,  would  be  willingly  as  well  as  correctly  done. 
His  superior  abilities  were  perhaps  the  more  readily  aekriow- 
Jedged,  because  associated  with  such  superior  kindness. 
\  After  leaving  the  grammar-school  and  entering  the  university, 
his  father's  resources  grew  somewhat  straitened.  Unwilling, 
therefore,  to  exhaust  on  himself  means  to  which  he  felt  others 
had  at  least  an  equal  claim,  he  generously  resolved  on  the  sacri- 
fice of  leaving  the  university  before  taking  his  degree.  This, 
with  his  sense  of  the  importance  of  a  thorough  education,  must 
have  been  a  painful  stop.  It  left  him  to  supply,  as  best  he  might, 
the  deficiency  to  which  it  doomed  him.  It  did  not,  however, 
prevent  his  alma  mater  from  subsequently  giving  him  his  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  It  may  be  added,  that  during  Ms  earlier 
studies,  he  had  made  considerable  progress  in  the  German  lan- 
guage ;  an  acquisition  of  great  service  to  him  in  his  subsequent 
practice  among  his  German  clients  about  Norristown.     ; 

He  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  with  Mr.  Howell,  an 
eminent  Quaker  lawyer  of  Philadelphia.  This  was  probably  as 
early  as  the  year  1789,  when  he  was  no  more  than  sixteen  years 
of  age  ;  for  during  this  year  we  find  him  a  member  of  a  debating 
club,  called  "  The  Ciceronian  Society,"  And,  as  one  of  its  mem- 
bers, appointed  to  argue  an  important  legal  question.  His  whole 
argument  has  been  preserved  in  manuscript ;  it  bears  clearly  the 
impress  of  the  juvenile  age  at  which  it  was  penned,  and  shows, 
moreover,  the  disadvantages  under  which  ho  labored,  from  the 
interruption  of  his  earlier  classical  studies.     Still,  it  is  an  in- 


18  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

teresting  paper ;  especially  as  it  shows  him  to  have  become 
already  warmly  interested  in  the  Pennsylvania  penitentiary  sys- 
tem, and  in  measures  for  meliorating  the  criminal  code  of  the 
state ;  and  as  it  enables  us  to  trace  the  progress  of  his  mind, 
in  style,  and  thought,  and  legal  ability,  between  this  period  and 
that  at  which,  four  or  five  years  later,  he  entered  on  the  practice 
of  the  law. 

He  continued  his  law  studies  with  Mr,  Howell  till  the  year 
1793,  when  that  gentleman  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow-fever,  the 
fearful  scourge  which,  at  that  time,  almost  desolated  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  He  then  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Rawle,  with 
whom  he  completed  his  preparatory  legal  studies. 

In  the  summer  of  1793  occurred  an  incident  deserving  record, 
as  illustrative  of  some  beautiful  traits  in  his  character.  When, 
from  the  flight  of  its  inhabitants,  the  city  had  become  almost  a 
desert,  and  young  Milnor  was  finally  induced  to  retire  to  Alex- 
andria, where  one  of  his  brothers  then  resided,  he  embarked,  with 
other  citizens,  in  a  schooner  bound  to  that  port.  During  the 
passage,  he  gave  a  striking  proof  both  of  real  benevolence  and  af 
true  courage.  Soon  after  their  embarkation,  one  of  the  passen- 
gers was  seized  with  the  well-known  symptoms  of  the  dreaded 
epidemic.  The  captain,  crew,  and  all  the  other  passengers  for- 
sook the  poor  victim,  and  left  him  to. his  fate.  But  in  young 
Milnor  was  found  another  spirit.  Although  he  had  a  peculiar 
dread  of  the  disease,  he  yet  remained  by  the  sick  man's  side, 
and  nobly  acted  as  his  faithful  nurse.  As  the  schooner's  medi- 
cine-chest contained  nothing  but  herbs,  he  administered  to  his 
patient  a  variety  of  decoctions,  till,  as  the  last  spark  of  hope 
seemed  expiring,;  a  profuse  perspiration  was  induced,  and  the 
man  most  unexpectedly  recovered. 

His  admittance  to  the  bar  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1794 ; 
and  at  the  May  term  of  the  same  year  he  was,  on  motion  of  his 
preceptor  Rawle,  admitted  as  an  attorney  of  the  court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  the  county  of  Montgomery.  He  was,  therefore,  in 
the  practice  of  the  law  before  he  reached  his  legal  majority.  He 
was  not  twenty -one  years  of  age  till  about  a  month  after  he  be- 
came a  practising  attorney,  or  on  the  20th  of  June,  1794. 

Previous  to  this  date,  however,  he  became  a  member,  and 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  19 

was  elected  president  of  "  The  Law  Society,"  in  Philadelphia ; 
for  on  the  8th  of  February,  1794,  he  gave,  from  the  presidential 
chair  of  the  society,  an  extended  and  elaborate  opinion,  drawn 
up  with  all  the  gravity,  precision,  and  learning  of  a  judge,  on 
the  question,  "Whether  a  jury,  in  an  action  of  ejectment,  can 
find  the  mesne  profits  in  damages  ?"  and,  apparently  near  the 
same  date,  he  also  delivered,  as  president  of  the  society,  an 
address  at  the  first  meeting  after  the  adoption  of  its  constitution. 
The  fact  of  his  being  president  of  the  association,  as,  well  as  the 
comparatively  finished  and  very  judicious  character  of  both  the 
documents  to  which  I  have  referred,  speaks  well  for  his  standing 
and  attainments  as  a  student  of  the  law.  In  truth,  between  his 
first  appearance  in  the  Ciceronian,  and  his  performances  here  as 
president  of  the  Law  Society,  there  is  all  the  difference  that  can 
well  be  imagined  between  a  boy  of  sixteen,  and  a  young,  but 
ripe  and  well- furnished  scholar  in  legal  science. 

His  prominence  in  the  Law  Society,  however,  did  not  abate 
his  interest  in  the  Ciceronian.  Shortly  after  his  admission  to 
the  bar,  and  his  settlement  in  practice  at  Norristown,  he  wrote 
a  beautiful  letter  in  reply  to  one  from  Aquila  M.  Bolton,  "dele- 
gate for  correspondence  of  the  Ciceronian  Society,"  assuring  him 
of  his  continued  zeal  for  the  honor  and  prosperity  of  that  insti- 
tution; of  his  purpose  to  persevere  in  the  duties  required  by  its 
constitution;  and  of  his  warm  personal  regard  for  many  of  its 
members. 

From  the  fact,  lying  on  the  records  of  the  court,  that  when 
admitted  as  an  attorney,  he  did  not  take  the  oath,  but  only  gave 
an  affirmation,  it  appears  that  he  was  then  a  regular  and  con- 
scientious member  of  the  society  of  Friends. 

Though  very  young,  and  very  youthful  in  appearance  even 
for  his  years,  yet  his  practice  soon  became  respectable,  and  grew 
reasonably  lucrative.  It  lay  among  the  best  families  in  Norris- 
town,  and  he  retained  it  after  his  removal  from  the  county  of 
Montgomery.  The  date  of  his  return  to  his  native  city  is  un- 
certain, but  it  was  as  early  as  1797 ;  since,  in  June  of  that 
year,  he  was  again  an  active  member  of  the  Philadelphia  Law 
Society;  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  was  once  more  its 
president. 


20  MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR 

His  membership  in  the  societies  which  have  been  mentioned, 
was  doubtless  of  great  practical  utility.  It  was  there  that  he 
early  acquired  the  somewhat  remarkable  readiness  and  accu- 
racy in  extemporaneous  discussion  and  debate,  which  enabled 
him  to  bear  so  active  and  prominent  a  part  in  the  business  of 
all  the  deliberative  bodies  in  which  he  was  subsequently  called 
to  act. 

The  incidents  of  his  life  while  engaged  in  legal  practice  at 
Norristown,  are  not  at  this  time  recoverable.  He  was  yet  un- 
married, though  it  was  pi^obably  there  he  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  the  lady  who  subsequently  became  his  wife.  It  was  there, 
too,  that  he  was  initiated,  and  entered,  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
youth,  into  the  mysteries  of  the  society  of . "  Free  and  accepted 
Masons."  In  a  diary,  which  he  afterwards  began  to  keep,  and 
under  date  of  March  17,  1800,  he  writes,  "I  was  elected  master 
of  Lodge  No.  31,  while  I  resided  in  Norristown;  but  since  my 
return  to  the  city,  I  have  been  a  member  of  No.  3,  and  am  now 
treasurer  of  the  latter."  "  On  St.  John's  day,  December  27, 
1798,  I  was  elected  senior- warden  of  the  Grand  Lodge ;  and  on 
St.  John's  day,  December  27,  1799,  was  unanimously  reelected 
to  the  same  office."  And  according  to  the  dates  furnished  by 
his  son,  William  H.  Milnor,  M.  D. — to  whose  valuable  "  Recol- 
lections" the  writer  is  indebted  for  most  of  the  facts  thus  far 
recorded — in  1805,  after  having  filled  many  important  subordi- 
nate offices,  he  was  elected  grand-master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  held  that  office,  by  yearly  reelections,  till 
1813,  the  great  turning-point  of  his  life. 

His  labors,  during  his  grand-mastership,  in  disseminating  the 
principles  of  the  order,  and  in  extending  its  prosperity,  were 
most  assiduous,  and  his  annual  communications  to  the  lodges 
under  his  charge  are  said  to  have  been  replete  with  sound  and 
wholesome  moral  instruction.  He  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
the  erection  of  the  old  Masonic  Hall  in  Chesnut-street,  Philadel- 
phia, and  conducted  the  ceremony  of  its  dedication,  on  the  festi- 
val of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  June  24,  1811.  He  pronounced  his 
dedicatory  oration,  which  his  friend  Bradford  calls  "  graceful  in 
delivery,  and  eloquent  in  itself,"  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  church, 
in  Race-street  •  and  it  was  on  this  occasion,  that,  as  they  left 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  2|* 

the  church  together,  his  friend  remarked  to  Mm,  "Why,  Right- 
Worshipful,  you  were  cut  out  for  a  parson ;"  little  dreaming  that 
the  idea  would  one  day  be  realized. 

Concurrently  with  his  relinquishment  of  legal  practice  in 
1813,  he  resigned  his  grand-mastership ;  and,  upon  accepting ' 
his  resignation,  a  beautiful  and  costly  jewel,  now  in  his  son 
Henry's  possession,  was  voted  to  him  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  as  a 
testimony  of  respect  and  attachment ;  its  delivery  being  accom- 
panied by  appropriate  formalities  and  a  touching  address. 

With  many,  peradventure,  the  last  few  paragraphs  will  throw 
more  of  a  painful  than  of  a  pleasing  interest  round  the  name  of 
Milnor ;  nevertheless,  as  a  faithful  biographer,  the  writer  could 
hardly  with  propriety  keep  out  of  sight  so  prominent  a  portion 
of  his  early  life  as  was  his  connection  with  Free  Masonry.  Be- 
sides, whatever  men's  present  views  of  Masonry  may  have  be- 
come, none  can  refuse  to  believe  that  he  considered  the  prmci- 
ples  of  the  order  to  be  pure. 

Oh  the  5th  of  July,  1795,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  "  The 
Society  for  promoting  the  abolition  of  Slavery,  for  the  relief  of 
iree  negroes  unlawfully  held  in  bondage,  and  for  improving  the 
condition  of  the  African  race."  At  the  annual  meeting  of  that 
society  for  1796,  he  was  elected  one  of  its  counsellors ;  and  for 
several  succeeding  years  was  annually  reelebted  to  the  same  office. 
In  1797  he  was  made  secretary,  as  well  as  counsellor ;  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  both  offices  for  several  years.  In  his  diary  of 
March  17,  1800,  he  writes,  "  For  two  years  past,  the  partiality 
of  my  fellow-members  has  honored  me  with  the  appointment  of 
the  corresponding  committee ;  and  besides  various  nominations 
on  special  committees,  I  was,  in  the  year  1798,  elected  one  of 
the  delegates  to  '  the  fifth  convention  of  delegates  from  the 
several  abolition  societies  in  the  United  States.'  Soon  after  I 
became  a  member,  I  went  through  my  routine  of  service  (nine 
months)  on  the  acting  committee ;  and,  having  drafted  the  ad- 
dress of  our  society  to  the  fourth  and  fifth  conventions,  I  have 
been  requested  to  prepare  the  one  which  is  to  be  presented  to 
the  sixth  convention,  to  be  held  in  this  city  on  the  first  day  of 
June  next." 

These  elections  and  appointments  were  not  unmeaning  com- 


^22  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

V 

pliments.  They  were  selections  of  a  man  who,  though  young, 
yet  entered  with  mature  heartiness  into  the  interests  of  the  so- 
ciety with  which  he  was  thus  incorporated.  If  he  was  not  born 
with  antislavery  feelings,  they  were  yet  quickly  generated  in 
his  heart  by  the  whole  moral  nurture  through  which  his  infancy 
and  childhood  were  carried  by  his  Quaker  parents. 

How  long  he  continued  to  act  in  the  affairs  of  this  society, 
there  are  no  means  of  deciding,  since  he  either  discontinued  his 
diary  a  few  days  after  the  date  last  cited,  or  has  suffered  its 
continuation  to  be  lost.  In  his  son's  "  Recollections"  it  is  stated, 
that,  besides  the  various  offices,  already  mentioned,  which  he 
filled,  he  was  attorney  to  the  society,  and  that  on  him  devolved 
the  burden  of  much  of  its  business.  The  society,  it  is  believed, 
was  founded  and  supported  chiefly  by  the  Quakers ;  and  the  zeal 
and  ability  with  which  he  entered  into  its  measures,  made  him 
conspicuous  in  its  counsels  and  influential  on  its  action. 

It  would  be  a  groundless  inference  to  conclude,  from  what 
has  been  said,  that  when  the  more  recent  abolition  movement 
took  its  rise.  Dr.  Milnor  must  have  been  found  among  its  active 
supporters.  Such  was  not  the  position  which  he  subsequently 
assumed.  His  sympathies  with  the  slave  never  abated;  but  as 
they  enlisted  him^  at  a  later  period,  in  the  cause  of  African 
Colonization,  so  they  continued  to  flow  strongly  in  the  channel 
of  that  society's  labors.  The  original  abolition  societies  of  this 
country,  as  we  have  seen,  aimed  at  the  improvement  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  African  race,  and  at  the  relief  of  free  negroes  un- 
lawfully held  in  bondage;  while,  if  they  contemplated  the 
abolition  of  the  slave-trade  and  of  slavery  itself,  they  still  evi- 
dently looked  at  this  latter  result  as  a  point  to  be  reached,  not 
directly,  but  indirectly,  through  the  "improvement,"  the  gradual 
elevation  "of  the  African  race."  Under  the  quiet  forms  of  such 
an  organization,  and  amid  the  temperate  influences  which  ema- 
nated from  those  forms,  his  zeal  for  the  slave  was  early  disci- 
plined; and  by  long  use,  he  became  habituated,  perhaps  it  may 
be  said,  unchangeably  habituated,  to  such  action  only  as  those 
forms  and  influences  admitted. 

At  an  early  period,  he  also  became  warmly  and  actively  in- 
terested in  the  fire  department  of  his  native  city.     It  was  in 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  23t 

December,  1797,  that,  as  he  says,  "A  number  of  young  men, 
of  whom  I  was  one,  associated  together  for  the  purpose  of  form- 
ing a  fixe  company.  "We  subscribed  fifteen  dollars  towards  the 
purchase  of  an  engine,  and  near  eight  dollars  each  for  the  pur- 
chase of  buckets.  Our  company  is  limited  to  sixty  members. 
We  have  been  full,  but  have  now,^"  March  17,  1800,  "  not  more 
than  fifty  attending  members.  Soon  after  its  formation,  the 
company  honored  me  with  the  office  of  president,  and  have  since, 
at  each  successive  election,  continued  me  in  that  station."  The 
company  was  called  "  The  Resolution  Fire  Company."  '-• 

The  fire  companies  of  Philadelphia  were,  at  that  time,  evi- 
dently composed  of  respectable  young  gentlemen;  and  were 
voluntary,  irresponsible  bodies,  acting  without  concert,  and,  to 
a  great  extent,  without  efficiency.  In  this  state  they  continued 
till  he  had  been  about  two  years  a  fireman.  Early  in  the  winter 
of  1800,  however,  having  deeply  felt  the  serious  evils  incident 
to  the  condition  of  the  fire  companies,  he  attempted,  as  president 
of  the  Resolution  Fire  Company,  to  introduce  a  new  order  of 
things;  and  his  labors,  in  conjunction  with  those  of  his  fellow- 
firemen,  resulted  in  giving  existence  to  "The  Philadelphia  Fire 
Association ;"  a  body  of  form,  and  system,  and  efficiency,  in  the 
place  of  what  had  before  been  a  formless,  ungoverned,  and  in  a 
great  measure  inefficient  multitude  of  firemen. 

The  details  of  his  labors  and  of  the  posts  of  honor  which  he 
occupied,  in  connection  with  this  association,  as  recorded  in  his 
diary,  illustrate  Mr.  Milnor's  talents  for  business,  the  readiness 
with  which  he  engaged  in  every  thing  that  concerned  the  public 
welfare,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  infused  life  and  activity 
into  the  various  bodies  to  which  he  belonged.  He  evidently  con- 
sidered the  fire  department  a  most  important  institution ;  and 
felt  that  his  post  of  service  in  it  was  highly  useful,  and  because 
useful,  therefore  honorable. 

In  the  summer  of  1798,  during  the  last  week  in  July,  the 
yellow-fever  again  invaded  Philadelphia,  and  continued,  for  sev- 
eral months,  to  rage  with  truly  desolating  violence.  Early  in 
August,  his  father's  family,  where  he  still  had  his  home,  broke 
up,  and  dispersed.  He  makes  the  following  entry  in  his  diary, 
August  11 :  "  The  yellow-fever  made  its  appearance  in  this  city 


24  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

about  two  weeks  since.  Preparations  for  escaping  its  destruc- 
tive ravages  have  so  engrossed  my  time,  that,  for  some  days  past, 
I  have  omitted  to  pay  any  attention  to  my  diary.  To-day,  my 
father's  family  are  removing  to  Mr.  Aaron  Oakford's,  near  Darby ; 
my  sister  Anna  starts  for  Elkton;  and  I  go  to  Norristown.  Thus 
distributed,  God  knows  when  it  will  be  our  fortune  again  to 
unite  at  our  home." 

The  pestilence  raged  horribly.  His  diary  for  September  5, 
^ves  a  lively  idea  of  the  state  of  the  city,  and  at  the  same  time 
of  the  tenderness  of  his  nature. 

"  The  accounts  from  Philadelphia  are  to  the  last  degree  dis- 
tressing. On  the  list  of  victims  to  the  ruthless  destroyer,  I  find 
the  names  of  several  of  my  friends ;"  especially  that  of  "  my 
ever-to-be-lamented  friend  Dr.  Francis  Bowes  Sayre.  This  gen- 
tleman fell  a  glorious  martyr  to  his  philanthropy. 
■  V-  "A  rhost  affecting  address  has  been  published  by  the  board 
of  health.  They  declare  their  efforts  to  arrest  the  progress  of 
pestilence  and  death  to  be  vain.  Safety  is  to  b6  secured  only  by 
flight.  Indeed,  the  greater  part  of  those  who  have  the  means, 
have  already  deserted  this  dreadful  place.  But  the  poor !  How 
must  the  heart  of  every  feeling  man  be  melted  at  the  descrip- 
tion which  is  given  of  their  horrid  situation.  Never  did  time 
and  opportunity  offer  when  it  more  properly  behooved  the  rich  to 
extend  relief  and  preservation  to  this  unfortunate  class  of  our 
fellow-men.  Past  experience  authorizes  the  anticipation  that 
the  occasion  will  be  embraced  with  a  cordiality  worthy  of  gen- 
erous minds." 

His  next  entry  is  two  months  later,  November  4, 1798.  "It 
is  two  months  this  day  since  I  have  made  a  minute  in  my 
diary.  During  all  this  time,  I  have  led  the  dull  and  monotonous 
life  of  an  idle  man..  Expelled  from  home  by  the  dreadful 
scourge  which  has  unceasingly  ravaged  the  city  since  the  begin- 
ning of  August  last,  I  have  had  no  business,  except  my  small 
practice  in  Montgomery  county,  to  attend  to.  Yesterday  I  re- 
turned to  the  city,  my  father  and  his  family  having  arrived  a 
few  days  before  me.  The  streets  have  not  yet  resumed  their 
usual  cheerfulness ;  nor  c^n  such  a  thing  be  looked  for  very 
soon,  considering  the  loss,  by  death,  of  3,446  of  our  inhabit- 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  25 

aiits,  and  all  the  variety  of  miseries  attendant  and  consequent 
on  such  a  mortality.  Other  accounts  make  the  number  of 
deaths  3,637." 

The  principal  object  in  referring  to  these  ravages  of  the  fever, 
is  to  show  how  they  introduced  important  incidents  in  his  life. 
During  his  temporary  retirement,  having  resumed  his  law  prac- 
tice in  the  courts  of  Montgomery  county,  he  engaged  as  counsel 
for  plaintiff  in,  trying  an  important  cause  ;  the  demand  upon  de- 
fendent  being  for  £1,161.  He  obtained  a  verdict  for  his  client, 
awarding  the  full  amount  claimed.  His  argument  was  regarded 
as  one  of  his  best  efforts,  and  raised  him  high  in  public  favor. 
He  says  of  it  in  his  diary, 

"  I  have  the  great  satisfaction  of  finding  my  conduct  in  this 
business  very  generally  approved ;  and  have  received  many  flat-, 
tering  encomiums  from  the  jury  to  whom  my  speech  was  ad- 
dressed. I  never  felt  riiyself  better  master  of  my  subject,  nor 
better  inclination  for  doing  justice  to  it ;  but  the  weather  is  so 
excessively  warm,  that  I  find  standing  on  my  feet  for  an  hour 
and  a  quarter  has  excessively  fatigued  me." 

But  the  most  interesting  result  of  his  summer  and  autumn 
retreat  from  Philadelphia  grew  out  of  his  intercourse,  during 
that  time,  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Henry  Pawling,  a  substantial 
farmer  near  Norristown.  Of  this  intercourse  he  gives  some 
glowing  accounts ;  and  it  was  doubtless  the  occasion  of  ripening 
in  him  a  most  true  and  tender  affection  for  the  only  daughter 
of  that  gentleman,  the  amiable  Miss  Eleanor  Pawling.  She 
became  his  wife,  and  their  marriage  took  place  not  long  after 
his  return  to  the  city.  His  return,  as  we  have  seen,  was  on  the 
3d  of  November,  1798 ;  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  the 
28th  of  February,  1799.  On  the  2d  of  March,  he  brought  his 
wife  from  her  father's  in  the  country  to  his  father's  in  the  city ; 
and  on  the  10th  of  April,  removed  with  her  to  their  own  house 
in  Arch-street,  between  Second  and  Third,  which  he  had  rented 
for  $400  per  annum.  "With  this  lady  he  lived  till  the  day  of  his 
death,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  confidence,  an  affection,  and  a  hap- 
piness, which  soberly  realized  much,  if  not  all  of  the  bright  im- 
aginings which  he  records  on  the  day  of  their  marriage.  His 
record  is  as  follows  : 


26  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  February  28,  1799.  This  day,  the  happiest  of  my  life,  I 
was  united  in  marriage  with  my  best  of  friends,  Eleanor  Paw- 
ling, daughter  of  Henry  Pawling,  Esq.,  of  Montgomery  county. 

"' This  was  the  day — the  eager  wished-for  day,  '' 

INIy  greedy  soul  had  treasured  up  so  long, 
And,  in  contracting  fancy,  half-possessed, 
To  blot  out  every  blacker  hour  of  life, 
"^  And  pay,  with  double  interest  of  joys, 

Courtship's  dull  toils  and  expectation's  pangs; 
The  day  has  now  arrived,  and  brings  more  joy 
Thah  keen  imagination's  self  e'er  hoped.' 

"  This  is  the  state  to  which  all  my  reflections  have  taught 
me  to  look  up,  as  the  happiest  with  which  it  has  pleased  a  be- 
neficent Providence  to  bless  his  creature  man.  In  the  possession 
of  the  woman  who  has  my  first  and  warmest  love,  and  perfectly 
assured  of  a  reciprocity  of  affection,  I  look  forward  to  the  en- 
joyment of  many  happy  days."  ' 

A  kind  Providence  permitted  him  to  realize  his  anticipations. 
They  lived  long  together,  and  their  long  lives  were  happy.  After 
their  marriage,  however,  eight  years  elapsed  before  they  were 
blessed  with  offspring.  Their  first-born  was  William  Henry ; 
and  after  him  were  born  six  other  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  one,  their  daughter  Eleanor,  after  long  months 
of  dreadful  suffering,  fell  asleep  about  a  year  after  her  father. 
Four  children,  with  their  widowed  mother,  still  survive,  and 
are  all  settled,  with  or  near  her,  in  New  York. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Milnor's  marriage,  occurred  an  incident 
which,  peradventure,  proved  the  remote  antecedent  of  an  im- 
portant consequence.  Till  his  marriage  he  lived,  as  he  had 
been  educated,  a  Quaker.  His  education,  indeed,  had  not  been 
one  of  great  strictness  in  the  customs  of  the  Friends  ;  still,  it 
had  induced  him  no,t  to  forsake  the  ways  of  his  parents  and 
remoter  ancestry.  But  his  marriage  led  to  the  severance  of  the 
bond  which  had  thus  far  detained  him  among  the  religious  fol- 
lowers of  William  Penn.  The  severance,  moreover,  was  not,  on 
his  part,  voluntary ;  it  was  on  their  part,  disciplinary.  His  wife 
belonged  to  an  Episcopal  family ;  and  they  were  married  by  a 
clergyman  who  was  willing  to  receive  a  wedding  fee.  For 
these  things  he  was,  in  due  process  of  time  and  form,  read  out 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  27 

of  meeting ;  and  thus,  though  not  immediately,  yet  ultimately 
became  a  member  and  a  minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church.  In  later  years,  when  he  came  to  have  some^  however 
inadequately  serious  thoughts,  and  had  resumed  his  long-sus- 
pended diary,  for  the,  special  piirpose  of  preserving  Sunday 
sketches  of  the  sermons  to  which  he  listened,  he  thus  alludes, 
in  a  passing  note,  to  this  penal  consequence  of  his  marriage : 

"  On  the  subject  of  religion  I  have  thought  much,  but  not 
profitably.  Born  of  parents  connected  with  the  society  of  Qua- 
kers, in  my  youth  I  attended  their  places  of  public  worship ;  but 
my  education  was  little  conformed  to  the  strictness  of  their  re- 
ligious discipline;  and,  with  the  utmost  respect  for  the  society, 
I  could  not  but  believe  that  there  was,  among  its  members,  much 
of  enthusiasm,  and  a  degree  of  useless  rigor  in  the  non-essential 
articles  of  dress  and  address.  My  marriage  to  a  lady  not  a 
member  of  the  society  of  Friends,  occasioned  my  disownment ; 
and  since  that  event,  which  happened  in  the  year  1799,  I  have 
seldom  gone  to  their  meetings." 

The  form  of  his  disownment  has  been  preserved,  and  is  here 
inserted. 

"At  a  monthly  meeting  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  held 
29th  of  eleventh  month,  1799,  the  following  testimony  was  agreed 
to,  and  a  copy  directed  to  be  given  to  the  party,  namely,      ,        , 

"  James  Milnor,  of  this  city,  attorney  at  law,  who  had  a 
birthright  among  us  the  people  called  Quakers,  disregarding  the 
order  of  our  discipline,  hath  accomplished  his  marriage,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  hireling  minister,  to  a  woman  not  professing 
with  us ;  and,  in  his  dress  and  address,  deviated  from  that  plain- 
ness and  moderation  consistent  with  our  religious  profession;  for 
which  deviations  he  hath  been  treated  with,  but  without  the 
desired  effect.  We  therefore  no  longer  consider  him  a  member 
of  our  religious  society ;  nevertheless,  desire  he  may  become 
duly  sensible  of  his  errors  and  seek  to  be  restored." 

How  sincerely  they  desired  his  restoration  we  may  judge 
from  the  fact  that  a  committee,  probably  that  which  was  ap- 
pointed to  "  treat"  with  him,  made  a  proposal,  when  they  called, 
to  reinstate  him  on  some  slight  acknowledgment  of  error.  They 
were  evidently  very  unwilling  to  lose  a  man  whose  general  life 


28  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

was  so  irreproachable,  and  who  was  so  rapidly  rising  to  influence 
in  his  native  city.  He  received  their  proposal  kindly,  but  face- 
tiously replied  to  it,  that  it  was  "rather  too  much  to  ask  of  a 
man  whose  honeymoon  was  scarcely  ended,  and  that  he  must 
decline." 

This  summer,  in  August,  1799,  the  yellow-fever  made  its 
third  entry  into  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Milnor  therefore  removed  his 
family  to  the  country,  where  they  took  up  their  residence  with 
his  father-in-law.  By  the  20th  of  October,  however,  they  had 
returned  to  the  city ;  the  pestilence  having,  on  this  occasion, 
assumed  a  milder  type  than  on  either  of  its  preceding  visits. 

It  is  now  time  to  look  at  Mr.  Milnor's  character  and  standing 
as  a  lawyer ;  for  he  had  already  given  decisive  proofs  of  what, 
in  this  capacity,  he  was  to  become. 

As  we  have  seen,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Nor- 
ristown,  where  his  income  exceeded  his  expenses ;  so  rapidly  did 
his  abilities  and  conduct,  even  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-one, 
elevate  him  to  a  respectable  standing  in  his  profession.  Some 
time  after  his  removal  to  Philadelphia,  he  began  the  diary  from 
v^^hich  extracts  have  already  been  given. 

An  entry,  made  so  late  as  June  6,  1800,  being  a  retrospect 
for  the  purpose  of  noting  his  success  or  his  failure  in  realizing 
and  investing  pecuniary  results,  has  a  paragraph  which  throws 
some  light  upon  his  Norristown  life  ;  while  at  the  same  time  it 
illustrates  the  modesty  with  which  he  entered  on  legal  practice. 

"  I  commenced  my  career,"  he  observes,  "  with  nothing  but 
a  small  stock,  say  eighty  pounds  worth  of  books,  the  very  mod- 
erate abilities  bestowed  on  me  by  nature,  and  an  education  which 
gglve  me  no  more  reason  to  boast  of  my  acquirements  than  I 
before  had  with  regard  to  natural  endowments.  My  outset  in 
practice  was  made  under  heavy  disadvantages.  Removing,  im- 
mediately after  my  admission,  into  Montgomery  county,  before 
I  had  quite  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years ;  unacquainted 
with  the  world,  and  unknown  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  county 
except  two  or  three  persons;  possessed  of  very  little  of  that  great 
requisite,  assurance ;  and  totally  inexperienced  in  the  practice 
of  my  profession,  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  did  not  make  greater 
progress  in  business  during  my  residence  there.     Indeed,  the 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  29 

progress  which  I  did  make  was  beyond  my  own  expectations ; 
and  though  I  feel  no  disposition  to  eulogize  my  subsequent  ef- 
forts, yet  I  cannot  say  that,  since^  my  return  to  the  city,  my 
advances  have  been  slower  than  I  had  been  led  to  anticipate."  . 

The  views  which  prompted  him  to  the  commencement  of  his 
diary,  are  perhaps  of  sufficient  interest  to  justify  their  insertion 
entire. 

"June  15,  1798. — The  practice  of  making  and  preserving, 
notes  of  a  man's  daily  transactions,  connected  with  such  occur- 
rences as  are  happening  around  him,  as  well  in  the  private  as 
in  the  public  departments  of  society,  with  such  reflections  as 
his  observation  may  suggest,  has,. by  many  very  respectable  men 
in  the  literary  world,  been  declared  to  be  profitable  and  pleasing. 

"  Their  opinion  of  its  utility  has  been  founded  upon  actual 
experience,  and  is  therefore  entitled  to  the  highest  credit.  It 
detracts  not  from  the  solidity  of  this  opinion,  when  I  acknowledge 
that  the  usefulness  of  a  diary  is  diminished  as  the  capacity  of 
the  man  who  keeps  it  is  narrower,  and  as  bis  means  of  informa- 
tion and  observation  are  more  confined.  Or  perhaps  it  would 
place  the  matter  in  a  juster  point  of  light  to  say,  that  the  jour- 
nal of  a  man  of  understanding  and  science  is  highly  useful  to 
himself  and  to  all  who  enjoy  the  privilege  of  its  perusal ;  while 
that  of  a  man  who  can  lay  no  great  claim  to  either  understand- 
p  ing  or  science,  is  profitable  only  to  himself  And  its  usefulness 
to  himself  depends  not  on  the  intrinsic  value  of  his  reflections, 
or  the  extent  of  his  observations.  It  serves  principally  to  recall 
to  his  recollection  events  which,  from  the  feebleness  of  his  re- 
tentive powers,  would  otherwise  be  lost  to  him.  It  may  be  an 
amusement  to  revive  in  his  own  mind  the  remembrance  of  cir- 
cumstances which  are  utterly  unimportant  to  all  the  rest  of  the 
world.  It  may,  in  various  contingences,  be  essentially  service- 
able to  him  to  be  able  to  ascertain  when  events  happened,  which, 
in  themselves,  or  in  relation  to  other  events  eithet  closely  or 
remotely  connected  with  them,  it  is  of  great  importance  to  ascer- 
tain. We  know  what  Hume  and  other  writers  have  said  of  the 
association  of  ideas ;  and  every,  one's  own  experience  will  supply 
him  with  numerous  instances^  in  which  things  have  been  brought 
to  his  recollection  by  the  remembrance  of  circumstances  trivial 


30  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

in  themselves,  and  apparently  unconnected  with  what  they  bring 
to  mind. 

"  To  these  advantages,  which  a  person  of  indifferent  abilities 
may  derive  from  a  diary,  it  should  be  added,  that  the  human 
mind  is  never  in  so  degraded  a  state  as  to  be  incapable  of  im- 
provement. The  custom  of  noting  down  reflections  and  obser- 
vations may  induce  a  habit  of  reflecting  and  observing.  This 
habit,  no  doubt,  is  the  discoverer  of  faults ;  and,  in  a  mind  pos- 
sessed of  the  least  ingenuousness,  the  discovery  of  a  fault  is 
accompanied  by  regret  that  it  should  exist,  and  followed  by  res- 
olutions oi  a  corrective  nature.  Here,  then,  is  a  benefit  amply 
compensating  the  trouble,  a  reward  overpaying  the  labor  of  half 
an  hour's  clerkship  each  day. 

"  How  important  are  the  inquiries  which  it  satisfies.  How 
have  I  spent  my  time  ?  What  have  I  been  doing  ?  Have  I  any 
knowledge  of  past  times,  except  the  ability  of  numbering  the 
years  and  months  that  have  rolled  unimproved  away?  If  I 
remember  incidents  that  have  occurred,  did  those  incidents  sug- 
gest profitable  reflections  ?  If  they  did,  have  I  retained  the  im- 
pressions which  they  made  at  the  time  ;  or  have  they  since  been 
the  foundation  of  advancement  in  intellectual  improvement  ? 

"  If  I  find  myself  obliged  to  answer  these  inquiries  in  a  way 
of  which  I  am  ashamed,  it  produces  regrets  and  anxieties,  which 
I  shall  not  be  willing  again  to  experience.  New  resolutions  are 
formed,  and  another  self-examination  results  in  emotions  of  a 
very  difierent  nature. 

'^  There  is,  in  truth,  no  happiness,  this  side  of  the  grave, 
superior  to  that  of  having  done  one's  duty ;  and  present  objects 
are  often  of  so  delusive  a  kind,  that  it  is  not  until  they  have 
passed  by,  and  their  images  are  retraced  on  the  mind,  that  we 
form  notions  in  any  way  just  respecting  them.  I  do  an  act 
which,  from  present  feeling,  I  believe  innocent,  perhaps  praise- 
worthy. Let  me  note  it  down,  and  some  time  hence  review  it ; 
I  may  discover  that,  so  far  from  being  praiseworthy,  it  was  not 
even  innocent.  It  cannot  be  recalled,  but  the  discovery  which 
I  have  made  will  prevent  its  xepetition.     -  ^ 

"  If  the  weakness  of  our  nature  produces  self-satisfaction  in 
the  performance  of  our  own  actions,  so  it  not  infrequently  leads 


HIS  LEGAL   PRACTICE.  31 

US  into  unjust  censures  upon  those  of  other  persons.  A  good 
man  will  feel  happy,  in  these  cases,  to  find  himself  mistaken; 
and  his  diary  may  be  the  means  of  affording  him  this  happiness. 

"  While  on  this  subject,  it  might  be  added,  that  as  no  one 
likes  another  as  well  as  himself,  why  should  not  conversation 
with  one's  self  be  more  gratifying  than  with  another  ?  Happy, 
indeed,  is  he  whose  stores  of  intellectual  acquirements  afford  a 
constant  source  from  which  that  gratification  may  at  all  times 
be  derived.  To  such  a  man  no  hour  is  vacant  or  heavy.  He 
complains  not  of  the  leaden  wings  of  Time ;  he  looks  not  anx- 
iously forward  to  the  hour  of  rest;  but,  when  it  arrives,  regrets 
that  nature  should  require  this  temporary  suspension  of  his 
faculties.  The  prospect  of  a  visit  in  his  slumbers  from  the  airy 
goddess  Fancy,  and  of  his  awaking  with  redoubled  vigor  and 
strength  for  new  exertions,  is  his  only  consolation. 
,  "  Reflections  like  the  foregoing  have  induced  me  to  attempt 
a  diary,  and  I  mean  to  include  in  it  all  such  matters  of  business, 
amusement,  observation,  sentiment,  and  reflection,  as  occasion 
and  the  routine  of  daily  transactions  may  suggest.  I  do  not 
mean  to  make  it  a  minute  or  formal  affair,  nor  that  it  shall  be 
altogether  uninterrupted;  but  as  it  is  intended  solely  for  my 
own  perusal,  its  irregularity  and  want  of  order  will  be  unim- 
portant." - 

From  this  opening  of  his  diary,  it  is  evident  that  nothing  of 
religious  motive  or  principle  entered  into  the  combination  of 
■views  by  which,  at  the  outset  of  his  active  life,  he  was  influ- 
enced. And  yet,  we  perceive  in  it  a  disposition  thoroughly  to 
inspect,  and  honestly  to  judge,  and  a  purpose  practically  to  dis- 
cipline, and  really  to  improve  himself,  from  which  self-know- 
ledge and  self-culture  might  reasonably  have  been  anticipated ; 
and  which,  if  ever  brought  under  the  control  of  religious  motive 
and  principle,  would  be  highly  promissory  of  a  thorough  and 
eminent  Christian  character. 

The  first  entry  in  his  diary  illustrates  a  prominent  trait  in 
his  habits  as  a  man  of  business. 

"  June  15,  1798. — Is  there  a  greater  evil  than  that  of  being 
in  debt,  without  the  means  of  getting  out  of  debt  ?  There  may 
be  greater  evils  than  this,  and  my  imagination  may  give  it  a 


32  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

coloring  which  it  does  not  deserve ;  but  whatever  foundation 
there  may  be  for  the  belief,  that  it  is  not  so  great  an  evil  as  I 
suppose  it  to  be,  it  would  require  some  argument  to  alter  my 
conceptions  on  the  subject. 

"  My  next  door  neighbor  is  in  debt.  Upwards  of  two  years 
ago  he  borrowed  from  me  about  two  hundred  dollars,  and  imme- 
diately afterwards  one  hundred  and  ten  more.  The  latter  sum 
he  engaged  to  return  in  twenty-four  hours,  I  have  never 
received  a  shilling  of  these  sums  in  money ;  but  as  he  is  a  book- 
seller, I  have,  at  his  earnest  solicitation,  taken  books  of  him  to 
the  amount  of  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  demand.  His  note  for 
the  balance  is  now  due,  and  he  urges  me  to  take  books  in  pay- 
ment. I  have  agreed  to  take  Yiner's  Abridgment,  which  satisfies 
the  debt,  except  thirty  or  forty  dollars. 

"  During  the  whole  of  the  time  Mnce  the  loan,  he  has  perse- 
vered in  a  system  of  cringing  prevarication  and  promises,  which 
he  must  have  known  at  the  time  he  dealt  them  out,  he  never 
would  fulfil.  Various  ai'tifices,  false  tales,  shifts,  and  pretences, 
has  he  made  use  of ;  and  I  have  been  the  dupe  of  them.  ■  I  can- 
not believe  him  to  be  so  destitute  of  feeling  as  not  to  be  morti- 
fied and  degraded  in  his  own  estimation,  by  the  imagined  neces- 
sity of  resorting  to  them.  But  in  the  one  case,  or  the  other,  I 
am  unable  to  paint  to  myself  a  more  humiliating  situation  for  a 
human  being  to  stand  in. 

"  I  have  derived  from  this  transaction  two  pieces  of  instruc- 
tion, which  are,  in  my  view,  an  adequate  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  the  whole  sum,  had  such  an  event  happened. 

"1.  To  be  cautious  of  hastily  and  unadvisedly  lending  money 
to  a  man  of  whose  ability  and  punctuality  I  am  not  well  assured, 
unless  it  be  accompanied  with  adequate  security. 

"2.  To  adhere  religiously  to  a  determination  which  I  formed 
at  the  moment  of  my  commencing  business,  nevef  to  incur  a 
debt  which  I  have  the  remotest  apprehension  of  being  unable,  or 
even  finding  it  inconvenient  to  discharge.  And,  in  order  con- 
stantly to  possess  the  means  of  keeping  this  resolution,  whatever 
my  income  may  be,  always  to  live  within  it." 

His  next  entry  illustrates  the  same  trait,  and  shows,  besides, 
that  his  course,  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  was,  if  not  towards 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE. 


(UNIVEESITY 


the  confidence  and  the  patronage,  at  least  towards  an  acquaint- 
ance with  the  business  transactions  of  citizens  in  the  highest 
walks  of  life. 

"  June  16. — ^When  a  man  forms  an  opinion  or  hypothesis 
with  which  he  is  delighted,  every  new  evidence  of  its  truth  or 
prosperity  increases  his  attachment  to  it.  This  is  the  case  with 
my  reflections  of  yesterday." 

It  seems  that  a  gentleman  "  of  high  eminence  in  his  profes- 
sion at  the  bar,  and  of  the  first  reputation  as  a  statesman  in  the, ' 
national  legislature,"  had  been  building  himself  "  a  stately  edifice 
at  Easton ;"  that  he  had  hired  two  workmen  from  Philadelphia, 
who  went  with  "  a  certain  hope  of  a  good  job,  in  the  gentleman's 
employ,  for  the  whole  summer ;"  but  that  when  they  had  finished 
their  work,  instead  of  receiving  their  pay  in  cash,  they  were 
obliged  to  content  themselves  with  money  enough  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  their  journey  back  to  Philadelphia,  and  with  their 
employer's  notes  "  for  the  residue  of  their  demand,"  at  three,  six, 
and  nine  months.  The  latest  of  these  notes  had  long  been  due, 
and  the  holders  of  them  had  engaged  Mr.  Milnor  in  an  attempt 
at  their  collection.  But,  "sheltering  himself  under  his  privileges 
as  a  representative  in  Congress,"  the  maker  of  the  notes  "  had, 
for  many  months,  amused"  his  creditors  and  their  lawyer  "with"" 
protestations  and  promises,  the  making  and  the  breach  of  which 
tallied  exactly  with  each  other."  At  length  "fresh  importuni- 
ties" from  those  whom  he  owed,  brought  a  letter  from  him  to 
their  lawyer,  of  which  Mr.  Milnor  writes  thus.  This  letter 
"comes  to  a  man  his  inferior  with  regard  to  abilities  as  a  lawyer 
and  a  statesman,  and  in  a  station  in  life  inferior  and  obscure 
compared  with  his.  No  one,  however,  would  infer  this  from  a 
perusal  of  the  letter.  The  style  is  precisely  such  as  a  person  in 
an  inferior,  would  address  to  a  person  in  a  superior  station.  It 
exhibits  a  mortifying  disclosure  of  his  embarrassed  circum- 
stances, and  must  have  produced  in  him,  while  writing  it,  the 
most  humiliating  reflections.  Pride,  or  more  properly  speaking, 
a  commendable  degree  of  self-respect,  will  ever  preserve  me  from 
these  horrible  dilemmas,  or  the  temper  of  mind  which  I  at  pres- 
ent feel  must  materially  change." 

The  result  of  the  matter  was,  that  the  Congressman  "  agreed 

Mem.  Hilnor.  3 


34  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  enter  an  amicable  action  on  his  notes  in  the  Supreme  Court," 
and  Mr,  Milnor  afterwards  bought  them  at  their  value  from  the 
workmen,  and  so  became  creditor  to  the  embarrassed  statesman. 

Four  days  later,  the  20th  of  June,  he  thus  notes  the  issue  of 
his  troubles  with  the  bookseller. 

"  After  dunning  to-day,  and  being  shuffled  off  as 

usual,  I  am  about  to  send  him  the  following  letter  : 

"  Sir — I  am  sure  you  can  have  no  reason  to  believe,  from 
'my  former  conduct,  that  I  would  seek  an  occasion  to  destroy 
the  friendship  which  has  for  some  time  subsisted  between  us. 
It  is  indeed  with  the  most  poignant  regret  that  I  have  to  com- 
plain of  a  series  of  unkind  disappointments,, many  of  which,  I 
cannot  persuade  myself  to  doubt,  a  very  small  exertion  on  your 
part  might  have  prevented.  As,  however,  my  convenience  has 
been  uniformly  postponed  to  your  own,  and  as  in  this  small 
matter  I  have  heretofore  exercised  a  forbearance  for  which  any 
prudent  man  would  justly  censure  me,  I  confess  I  now  feel  my- 
self perfectly  at  liberty  to  act  as  I  conceive  best  for  my  own 
interest, 

"I  have  just  told  you  that  I  am  in  want  of  a  small  sum  to 
complete  a  payment.  I  am  persuaded  you  can  furnish  me  with 
it,  if  you  have  the  inclination.  If,  therefore,  I  do  not  receive  it 
before  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  I  shall  hold  myself  at 
liberty  to  decline  the  acceptance  of  Viner,  and  shall  do  with  your 
note  whatever  will  most  expeditiously  supply  me  with  money. 
I  give  you  the  refusal  of  it  at  a  discount  of  nineteen  dollars  and 
thirty-five  cents,  and  shall  prefer  your  acceptance  of  this  offer 
to  taking  the  books  which  I  hdve  mentioned, 

"  A  trifling  degree  of  pains  will,  I  question  not,  enable  you 
to  comply  with  this  last  proposal,  and  the  discount  will  com- 
pensate for  the  loss  of  the  present  opportunity  of  selling  the 
books, 

"I  conclude  with   assuring  you  that  nothing  could  have 
given  me  so  much  uneasiness  as  to  be  obliged  to  cease  calling 
myself,  what  I  have  ever  done  since  our  first  acquaintance, 
"  Your  sincere  friend  and  well-wisher, 

"JAMES  MILNOR," 

«  Mr, ,  June  20, 1798," 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  35 

Almost  immediately  after  dispatching  this  significant  epistle, 
he  makes  the  following  memorandum  in  his  diary. 

"  Mirabile  dictu  !  My  letter  has,  in  a  few  minutes*,  produced 
me  thirty-one  dollars,  with  a  promise  of  more  before  night." 
And  before  night,  he  adds, 

"  The  letter  to produces  the  further  effect  of  a  pay- 
ment of  the  small  remaining  balance  of  seven  dollars  and  thirty- 
five  cents,  which,  with  Viner's  Abridgment,  now  agreed  to  be 
taken,  settles  all  accounts  between  us  to  the  present  day.  The 
books  I  am  to  receive  to-morrow."  • 

These  extracts  show  with  what  feelings  of  high  integrity 
Mr.  Milnor  entered  on  the  business  of  life.  The  rules  which  he 
adopted  from  the  outset,  never  to  get  into  debt  without  the  most 
reliable  means  of  getting  out  of  debt ;  always  to  live  within  his 
income ;  and  never  to  lend  money  without  adequate  security, 
are  unspeakably  important  to  every  man  of  business.  To  these 
rules  Mr.  Milnor  was  faithful,  and  to  his  fidelity  he  owed,  under 
Providence,  his  uniformly  increasing  prosperity.  His  annual 
income  always  exceeded  his  annual  expenditure,  and  so  far  as 
it  can  be  ascertained  from  his  diary,  that  income  sustained  a 
steady  increase.  He  gives  an  occasional  inventory  of  his  effects, 
and  a  frequent  statement  of  his  income  and  expenses ;  and  the 
result  uniformly  shows  that  he  was  steadily,  and  not  only  so, 
but  more  and  more  rapidly  rising  in  wealth. 

He  was  peculiarly  strict  with  himself  touching  funds  col- 
lected for  his  clients,  never  allowing  himself  to  have  on  deposit 
to  their  credit  less  than  the  full  amount  of  his  collections  for 
them.  Once,  indeed,  on  settling  his  accounts  at  bank,  he  dis- 
covered that  he  had  drawn  a  small  amount  beyond  what  be- 
longed to  him ;  or  had  less  left  on  deposit  than  the  amount  then 
due  his  clients.  The  discovery  was  disturbing,  and  he  instantly 
took  measures  for  putting  his  accounts  in  their  proper  state. 
"I  have  made  it  an  invariable  rule,"  he  writes,  in  his  diary, 
"  since  I  have  been  in  business,  never  to  intrench  upon  clients' 
money,  and  although  I  am  well  persuaded  that  this  first  devia- 
tion will  not  subject  me  to  any  inconvenience,  yet  I  have  made 
a  memorandum  of  it  for  two  purposes  : 

"  1.  That  I  may  with  all  diligence  replace  this  $101 83  in  bank. 


36  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILKOR. 

"  2.  That  I  may  be  more  careful  in  future,  and  not  subject 
myself  to  the  possibility  of  inconvenience  or  anxiety." 

He  had  a  horror  of  debt,  and  of  an  unfaithful  management 
of  trusts,  and  the  evidence  of  this  gained  him  universal  confi- 
dence, and  won  for  him  the  honorable  distinction  of  "  the  honest 
LAVTYER."  A  curious  and  pleasing  illustration  of  this  point  was 
furnished  at  a  later  period,  when  he  had  been  prevailed  on  to 
stand  candidate  for  a  seat  in  Congress.  On  the  day  of  the  elec- 
tion he  walked  to  the  polls,  in  company  with  his  friend  Bradford. 
As  they  approached  they  saw  a  gentleman  busily  engaged  in 
distributing  votes  among  the  crowd.  This  gentleman  was  a 
warm  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Milnor,  a  brother  Freemason,  and 
one  of  his  clients,  and  yet  opposed  to  him  in  political  views. 
They  saluted  each  other  kindly,  when  the  following  brief  colloquy 
ensued.  "Well,  Right-Worshipful,"  said  the  vote-distributer, 
"  here  am  I,  working  against  you  hard  as  I  can.  I  tell  you,  and 
our  mutual  friend  Bradford,  I  would  trust  you  with  all  my  busi- 
ness, my  property,  and  even  my  wife  and  children  ;  but  I  cannot 
trust  you  with  my  politics^  "  I  thank  you,"  replied  Mr,  Mil- 
nor, "  I  thank  you,  my  brother,  for  your  confidence.  Do  your 
duty,  and  let  the  result  be  what  it  may,  it  shall  never  break  our 
friendship."  Justly,  indeed,  might  such  a  tribute  to  his  honesty 
mitigate,  though  it  doubtless  failed  to  extinguish  his  regret  at 
finding  in  a  personal  friend  a  political  enemy. 

As  an  honest  lawyer,  he  would  not  undertake  a  case  in 
which,  so  far  as  his  judgment  was  clear,  he  saw  that  he  would 
be  obliged  to  argue  and  to  act  against  truth,  justice,  and  equity. 
He  may  not  have  judged  so  rigorously  in  these  respects  as  he 
would  have  done  in  later  years,  but  judging  as  an  honest  man 
of  the  world,  he  was  faithful  to  his  conscience.  What  this  told 
him  was  clearly  wrong,  he  would  not  undertake.  But  then, 
acting  on  this  principle,  he  was  all  the  more  earnest,  thorough, 
and  persevering  in  the  prosecution  of  a  cause,  when  once  under- 
taken— all  the  more  faithful,  zealous,  and  devoted  to  a  client, 
when  he  had  once  allowed  himself  to  be  retained  as  counsel,  or 
engaged  as  advocate.  He  never  winked  at  the  remissness  of  a 
brother  lawyer  by  consenting  to  postpone  a  trial,  especially  when 
he  would  thereby  jeopard  the  cause,  or  compromise  the  interests 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  37 

of  his  client.  Nor  did  he  withhold  aught  which  untiring  dili- 
gence and  unslumbering  vigilance  could  contribute,  towards 
defeating  the  sinister  arts  and  the  embarrassing  influence  of  his 
opponent,  however  powerful.  His  zeal  in  the  causes  which  he 
undertook,  was  true  and  long-lived.  Being  fed  with  the  good 
oil  of  an  -approving  conscience,  it  never  went  out,  nor  even  flick- 
ered. He  was  not  like  the  man  whose  zeal  is  quickly  extin- 
guished by  external  difficulties,  because  it  has  first  died  at  his 
own  consciously  hollow  and  dishonest  heart. 

As  illustrative  of  this  remark,  he  had,  in  a  certain  case,  for 
seyeral  years  been  prosecuting  a  claim  against  the  celebrated 
Stephen  Girard.  This  gentleman,  meanwhile,  had  been  throw- 
ing in  the  way  of  a  settlement  every  possible  obstacle  which 
immense  wealth,  and  its  accompanying  influences,  could  raise. 
But  finding  that  Mr.  Milnor  was  determined  to  establish  the 
claim,  and  that  he  could  not  be  wearied  out  by  "  the  law's 
delay,"  nor  circumvented  by  any  other  of  the  arts  of  practice, 
he  finally  consented  to  abide  the  result  of  an  arbitration.  This 
result  was  in  favor  of  Mr.  Milnor's  client,  and  when  Mr.  Girard 
handed  Mr.  Milnor  a  check  for  the  amount  awarded,  he  observed, 
"  You  have  proved  yourself,  sir,  a  lawyer  who  will  never  desert 
a  client.  If  I  had  not  an  attorney  whom  I  very  much  respect, 
you  would  be  my  man."  The  observation  shows  that  true  fidel- 
ity to  a  client  is  not  lost  even  on  an  opponent. 

Based  on  the  foundation  of  such  a  character  for  honesty  and 
fidelity,  the  structure  of  his  influence  as  a  lawyer  was  reared  by 
a  variety  of  causes.  As  his  honesty  gave  him  an  unfainting 
constancy  to  the  interests  of  his  clients,  so  his  prudent  caution 
and  sound  judgment  in  forming  an  opinion,  ministered  to  a 
decided  promptness  and  energy  of  action  when  that  opinion  was 
formed.  Grreat  amiableness  of  disposition,  and  suavity  of  man- 
ners, won  him  hosts  of  friends.  And  then,  he  was  distinguished 
for  habits  of  great  diligence,  and  close  application  both  to  business 
and  to  study.  His  industry  was,  in  truth,  as  untiring  as  his 
zeal.  By  early  rising,  strict  punctuality,  and  the  closest  economy 
of  time,  while  he  generally  had  an  hour  for  a  friend,  he  contrived 
to  dispatch  a  great  amount  of  business,  and  no  small  amount  of 
legal  and  general  reading.     He  was  a  strict  adherent  to  method 


38  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

in  all  things.  His  habits,  in  this  respect,  cleaved  to  him  like  an 
inseparable  garment ;  he  wore  them  through  life,  and  they  proved 
of  immense  value  to  himself  and  to  others.  The  following  entry 
in  his  diary  shows  what  these  habits  led  him,  in  a  moderate  way, 
to  attempt ;  and  though  he  was  often  prevented  from  closely  fol- 
lowing the  plan  here  sketched,  yet  it  marks,  on  the  whole,  the 
general  order  of  his  life  while  he  continued  in  the  practice  of 
the  law. 

"June  20,  1798. — How  inconsistent  is  the  conduct  of  man  I 
How  frequently  variant  are  his  practices  from  his  precepts  J  How 
much  easier  to  conceive  what  is  right  than  to  execute  it !  In  one 
point,  more  particularly  than  in  any  other,  I  feel  myself  to  be 
this  inconsistent  being.  I  have  always  been  persuaded  of  the 
utility  and  indispensableness  of  method,  in  business  and  in  study. 
It  has  always  been  the  subject  of  my  encomiums,  and  I  have 
believed  it  to  be  equally  useful  to  the  man  of  genius  and  talents, 
and  to  the  man  of  plain  common-sense.  In  my  professional  prac- 
tice, although  I  cannot  pique  myself  on  my  regularity,  yet  has  it 
not  been  totally  neglected.  But  in  my  studies  I  have,  on  this 
head,  been  careless  to  a  very  blamable  degree.  When  I  have 
chalked  it  out,  something  invariably  intervenes  to  obliterate  my 
plan. 

"What  if  I  were  now  to  begin  upon  a  moderate  scale,  and 
without  venturing  hastily  upon  rash  resolutions,  limit  myself  to 
a  certain  system  for  a  month  to  come?  Suppose  that  system 
were  something  like  the  following :  .  > 

"  1.  To  rise  early — say,  at  least,  by  five — ^take  up  Burrow's 
Reports,  and  apply  myself  to  it  till  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
before  breakfast ;  this  quarter  of  an  hour  to  be  spent  in  dressing. 

"2.  After  breakfast,  on  entering  my  office,  to  attend  to  the 
most  prominent  and  urgent  business  of  the  day,  and  devote  the 
forenoon  to  matters  of  practice.  This  will  comprise  attention  to 
the  calls  of  clients,  occasional  out-of-door  errands,  keeping  up 
docket,  drawing  declarations,  preparing  for  trials  and  arguments, 
and  attendance  at  courts,  which,  for  a  few  days  from  this  time, 
will  engross  part  of  the  afternoon  also. 

"  3,  After  dinner,  some  historical,  classical,  or  miscellaneous 
book  may  occupy  an  hour ;  say,  for  the  ensuing  montji,  Smith's 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  39 

Wealth  of  Nations.  The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  may  be 
devoted  to" — perhaps,  had  he  finished  the  sentence,  he  would 
have  added,  "  lighter  kinds  of  reading. 

"  4.  The  evenings  during  this  month  are  short  and  warm,  and 
may  therefore  be  given  to  exercise,  or  to  conversation. 

"I  confess  I  like  my  scheme,  and  will  endeavor  to  summon 
to  my  aid  resolution  enough  strictly  to  adhere  to  it." 

And  he  liked  it  none  the  less  when,  his  set  month  having 
expired,  he  found  himself,  from  various  interfering  causes,  con- 
strained to  make  the  following  record : 

"July 23. — I  ought  to  note,  on  this  day,  that  the  plan  which 
I  marked  out  for  my  observance  on  the  20th  of  last  month,  has 
not  been  strictly,  nor  even  tolerably  observed.     Shame,  shame  !" 

His  reflections,  four  days  later,  appertain  to  the  point  in  hand, 
and  are  therefore  added. 

"  July  27. — BufFon  once  observed  to  one  of  his  Mends,  that 
'  Genius  is  only  a  greater  aptitude  to  patience  ;  but  observe,' 
added  he,  '  that  patience  must  be  applied  to  every  thing:  patience 
in  finding  out  one's  line  ;  patience  in  resisting  the  motives  that 
divert,  and  patience  in  bearing  what  would  discourage  a  common 
man.'  This  is  a  very  striking  observation.  It  is  one  of  those  say- 
ings which  may  be  the  future  making  of  a  great  man.  Indeed, 
BufFon  himself  was  a  strong  witness  in  favor  of  the  remark,  that 
he  who  passionately  desires  glory,  is  sure  in  the  end  to  obtain  it. 
This  desire,  however,  must  not  be  a  momentary  one.  It  must  be 
an  every-day  passion. 

"  Grlory  and  fame  are  things  beyond  my  expectations,  perhaps 
my  wishes.  I  do  not  permit  myself,  for  a  moment,  to  indulge  in 
such  fantastically  delusive  hopes.  I  trust  I  have  a  better  know- 
ledge of  the  extent  of  my  capacities,  than  thus  to  deceive  myself. 
I  cannot,  then,  entirely  accord  with  the  sentiment  of  the  great 
Buffbn.  Perhaps  it  may  be  prejudice  that  induces  me  still  to 
feel  a  reluctance  in  surrendering  the  old  opinion,  that  there  is  a 
natural  diversity  in  the  understandings  and  genius  of  men.  I  am 
convinced,  however,  that  this  notion  has  been  carried  too  far. 
Daily  instances  present  themselves,  in  all  professions,  of  the  won- 
derful efiicacy  of  this  'aptitude  to  patience.'  Would  to  God  I 
possessed,  or  could  acquire  it.     I  might  then  be  occasionally 


40  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

cheered  by  the  modest  hope  of  attaining  a  share  of  that  reputation 
in  my  profession,  which  I  sometimes  fear  will  only  be  the  reward 
of  an  application,  an  industry,  and  a  patience,  which  I  feel,  very 
sensibly,  do  not  constitute  my  character.  Whatever  may  be  the 
result,  I  find  myself  obliged  to  go  on.  Perchance  good-luck, 
which  has  favored  some  of  my  forerunners,  may  light  also  on  me. 
Who  knows  ?" 

These  passages  were  written,  it  will  be  remembered,  when 
Mr.  Milnor  was  no  more  than  twenty-five  years  old.  He  was  still 
a  very  young  lawyer.  At  that  early  period,  he  seems  to  intimate 
that  he  had  not,  as  an  ingredient  in  his  nature,  BufFon's  "  apti- 
tude to  patience."  However  this  may  have  been,  he  was,  ere 
long,  able  to  acquire  somewhat  very  like  it,  and  thus  to  prove 
that  if  he  were  not  horn  to  the  philosopher's  idea  of  genius,  he 
could  yet  rise  by  effort  to  what  perhaps  served  his  purpose  quite 
as  well.  But,  whether  patient,  persevering  industry  were  with 
him  an  element  of  nature,  or  a  result  of  effort,  the  foregoing  ex- 
tracts make  one  thing  manifest :  that,  as  yet,  what  ivas  really 
elementary  in  his  character  was  far  from  including  any  thing  of 
religious  principle,  motive,  or  feeling.  If  he  were  already  an 
honest,  faithful,  devoted,  and  rising  lawyer,  he  had  not  yet,  even 
in  apparent  tendency^  any  thing  of  the  true  Christian. 

In  his  practice  as  a  lawyer,  cases  of  great  interest  often  pre- 
sented themselves,  calling  for  his  offices  both  as  a  lawyer  and  as 
a  friend.  He  has  placed  several  on  record,  even  at  this  early 
period  of  his  life ;  one  of  which,  as  it  illustrates  the  remark  now 
made,  while  at  the  same  time  it  gives  us  a  good  insight  into 
his  character,  and  a  look  back  upon  the  political  and  moral  aspect 
of  the  times,  may  be  here  advantageously  inserted. 

"  Saturday,  July  14, 1798. — An  incident  yesterday  afternoon 
much  affected  me.  W.  D. — a  person  for  whom  I  some  time  since 
commenced  an  action  against  Mr.  B.  for  arrearage  of  wages  due 
the  former  as  editor  of  a  newspaper,  of  which  the  latter  is  pro- 
prietor— called  upon  me.  Never  did  I  behold  a  picture  of  more 
perfect  wretchedness.  With  a  countenance  expressive  of  the  most 
agonizing  sensations,  and  with  a  voice  faltering  from  emotion,  he 
informed  me  that  his  wife  was  then  lying  dead,  having  departed 
about  an  hour  and  a  half  before ;  that  he  was  destitute  of  the 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  41 

means  of  providing  a  coffin,  or  any  other  of  the  requisites  for 
interment ;  and  that  his  only  resource  was  to  sacrifice  a  part  of 
the  debt  due  him  from  Mr.  B.,  in  order  to  obtain  an  immediate 
payment  of  the  remainder.  I  advanced  him  as  much  as  his 
present  most  pressing  necessities  required,  and  proceeded  at  once 
to  make  arrangements  with  Mr.  B.  The  latter  is  what  may  be 
termed,  in  an  old  phrase,  '  a  hard  manH  To  be  sure,  D.  has 
behaved  towards  him  in  an  indecorous  manner ;  but  it  is  not  a 
recent  transaction,  and  there  would  have  been  a  generosity  in 
forgiving  him, 

"  My  eloquence  yesterday,  to  which  I  vainly  thought  my 
feelings  had  given  an  unusual  glow,  was  well-nigh  lost  upon  B. 
To-day,  however,  he  has  sent  me  an  offer  of  twenty  dollars  in 
cash,  a  note  at  sixty  days  for  fifty  dollars,  and  another  at  forty- 
five  days  for  thirty -three  dollars ;  making  one  hundred  and  three, 
which  he  alleges  to, be  Mr.  D.'s  right.  D.  claimed  one  hundred 
and  thirty-eight ;  but  all  considerations  are  lost,  in  circumstances 
like  his,  except  that  of  present  succor.  He  is  obliged  to  accept 
the  offer.  And  how  does  it  relieve  him  ?  He  has  twenty  dollars 
in  cash.  The  great  humanity  of  church  establishments  calls  for 
only  sixteen  of  this,  as  compensation  for  a  piece  of  ground  six  feet 
by  two.  Will  the  remaining  four  pay  for  the  poor  creature's  coffin  ? 
No.  How  heart-rending,  then,  the  situation  of  this  husband ! 
I  can  supply  him  with  twenty  dollars ;  and  opportunely  he  steps 
in  to  receive  it.  I  wish  to  do  more ;  but  am  at  present  without 
the  means,  consistently  with  the  punctuality  which  I  must  ob- 
serve in  the  discharge  of  a  little  engagement  of  my  own. 

"  The  poverty  of  this  man  suggests  very  strongly  the  dismal 
effects  of  a  misapplication  of  talents.  In  possession  of  abilities 
much  above  mediocrity,  and  with  acquirements  of  an  extraordi- 
nary kind,  this  man  might,  one  would  suppose,  be  an  ornament  to 
literature  and  a  useful  member  of  society.  But,  unfortunately, 
he  has  been  deeply  infected  with  the  mania  of  the  day.  His 
principles  are  of  the  most  Jacobinical  sort.  Blindly  attached  to 
the  French  Revolution,  even  now  that  its  object  is  so  obviously 
changed,  he  can  see  nothing  that  merits  censure  in  tlie  conduct 
of  it.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  still  with  him  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  republicanism ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  believes  our 


42  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

own  government  to  be  on  the  high  road,  and  advancing  with 
rapid  strides,  towards  monarchy.  This  man,  had  he  but  pos- 
sessed moderation  and  temper,  and  given  a  proper  direction  to 
his  talents,  would  have  made  a  truly  meritorious  character.  For, 
however  I  disapprove  of  the  violence  of  his  politics,  I  am  not  so 
far  in  the  opposite  extreme  as  to  impute  to  him  the  worst  in* 
tentions.  I  see  too  much  of  this  spirit  of  intolerance  not  to 
deprecate  it  heartily.  I  feel  dreadful  anticipations  as  to  its  ef- 
fects in  this  country.  The  conciliatory  spirit,  a  disposition  for 
mutual  indulgence  and  forbearance,  once  gone,  whither  may  not 
the  storms  of  party  drive  us  ?  It  is .  the  part  of  a  rational  man 
to  convince  by  argument,  not  convert  by  force.  But,  from  what 
w,e  daily  see,  can  we  accuse  the  poet  of  injustice,  when  he  says, 

"• '  Amid  the  wood  the  leopard  knows  his  kind ; 
The  tiger  preys  not  on  the  tiger  hrood. 
Man  only  is  the  conunon  foe  of  man.'  " 

The  details  thus  given  will  enable  the  reader  to  form  a  suf- 
ficiently clear  idea  of  Mr.  Milnor,  as  a  lawyer.  His  whole  course 
of  practice,  a  period  of  about  nineteen  years,  was  such,  in  its 
character  and  results,  as  might  be  expected  from  a  man  peculiarly 
mild  and  gentle  in  his  ordinary  dispositions,  strong  and  ardent  in 
attachments,  affable  and  courteous  in  manners,  and  possessed,  to 
an  uncommon  degree,  of  a  sound  judgment  and  a  wise  prudence, 
which  rendered  him,  at  all  times  and  in  all  situations,  an  invalu- 
able friend,  a  safe  counsellor,  and  a  useful  man.  With  no  pre- 
tensions to  the  highest  order  of  intellect,  and  with  too  much 
genuine  modesty  to  overestimate  his  actual  abilities,  there  was, 
in  his  mind,  so  much  of  those  rare  endowments — more  directly 
valuable,  perhaps,  than  the  gifts  of  genius — ^practical  common- 
sense,  great  industry,  and  a  sprightly  activity  of  faculties,  that 
he  was  able,  in  addition  to  what  he  effected  in  connection  with 
the  various  political,  benevolent,  and  literary  associations  of  the 
day,  to  accomplish  an  unusual  amount  of  results  in  his  strictly 
professional  engagements.  He  was,  besides,  a  man  of  undoubted 
and  undaunted  moral  and  physical  courage  ;  a  courage,  however, 
trained  into  strict  subordination  to  the  good-breeding  of  a  gentle- 
man. He  was  never  double-faced,  either  in  public  or  in  private ; 
never  offended  any  by  an  abrupt  or  obtrusive  expression  of  his 


HIS  LEGAL  PRACTICE.  43 

opinion ;  and  yet  never  shrunk,  when  occasion  required  it,  from 
a  sincere,  frank,  and  fearless  utterance  of  his  views.  All  these 
traits  of  character  were  remarked,  and  are  well  remembered  by 
the  few  surviving  friends  of  his  early  life,  and  will  be  readily 
recognized  by  those  familiar  with  him  in  later  periods. 

The  habits  of  business  which  he  acquired  in  his  legal  practice 
were  of  great  permanent  value,  as  they  rendered  him  useful  in 
the  management  of  pecuniary  trusts,  as  well  as  safe  in  that  ol 
his  own  affairs.  When  he  first  began  practice,  he  was  more  suc- 
cessful in  making'  than  in  saving  money ;  and  this  led  him  early 
to  study  this  latter  branch  of  economy.  His  good  judgment  soon 
made  him  as  judicious  in  the  investment  as  he  was  skilful  in  the 
accumulation  of  funds.  From  the  beginning  of  1795,  the  year 
when  his  practice  commenced,  to  the  close  of  1799,  that  in  which 
his  marriage  took  place,  his  yearly  receipts  increased  from  about 
$530  to  nearly  $3,000.  They  sustained  a  corresponding  increase 
so  long  as  he  continued  his  practice ;  and  as  his  expenses  were 
uniformly  moderate,  and  for  eight  years  after  his  marriage  his 
family  sustained  no  increase,  he  must  have  realized  a  rate  of 
prosperity  quite  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  reasonable  desires  of  any 
reasonable  man.  In  short,  he  closed  this  part  of  his  career  a 
highly  accomplished,  truly  respected,  and  moderately  wealthy 
lawyer. 

But  we  shall  not  understand  the  first  half  of  Mr.  Milnor's  life 
unless  we  are  made  aware  that,  notwithstanding  the  peculiarities 
which  marked  him  as  a  prudent  and  prosperous  man  of  business, 
rising  constantly  and  rapidly  towards  wealth,  he  was  yet,  from 
the  beginning  to  the  close  of  his  legal  practice,  a  fashionable  man 
of  the  world.  Tasteful  and  liberal  in  his  provisions  for  his  fam- 
ily, generously  hospitable  in  his  entertainment  of  friends,  and 
careful  to  maintain  his  standing  in  the  ranks  of  fashionable  so- 
ciety, he  was  in  truth  cordially  fond  of  all  but  its  foolish  and 
ruinous  extravagances.  This  appears  luminously  in  his  occasional 
letters  to  his  wife ;  who,  it  seems,  though  bred  an  Episcopalian, 
was  yet,  as  to  the  gayeties  of  the  world,  more  of  a  Quakeress 
than  he  desired.  Constitutionally  of  a  quiet,  retiring,  and  gentle 
spirit,  she  would  gladly  have  persevered  in  the  simple  plainness 
of  her  earlier  life  in  the  country.     But  he  had  marked  out  for 


44  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR, 

himself  a  different  course  ;  and  hence,  in  his  letters,  occasionally 
exhorts  her  to  more  of  sympathy  in  his  tastes  and  to  more  of 
conformity  with  his  views..  In  a  word,  to  use  the  language  of 
his  son's  "  Recollections,"  "  He  was  still  a  man  of  the  world ; 
fond  of  its  amusements,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  governed  by  its 
maxims ;  and  he  considered  a  mingling  with  fashionable  society, 
provided  it  did  not  conflict  with  his  moral  and  professional  duties, 
as  itself  a  duty  and  a  means  of  advancement."  He  was  a  man 
of  too  much  honesty  and  principle  to  be  either  dissipated  or  ex- 
travagant; was  always  strictly  moral  in  his  conduct,  and  safe  in 
his  expenditures ;  but  within  these  limits,  he  was  fitted  to  enjoy 
and  permitted  to  have  whatever  the  gay  world  could  furnish  for 
his  gratification.  He  was  evidently  fond  of  the  theatre,  and  a 
frequent  attendant  at  the  play. 

As  a  man  of  the  world,  he  was  well  fitted  to  rise  and  shine 
by  the  very  combination  which  he  presented,  of  gay,  lively,  so- 
cial, conversational  qualities,  with  sterling  good-sense  and  prin- 
ciple. The  former  made  him  popular ;  the  latter  kept  him  from 
being  ridiculous.  He  was  far  above  the  absurd  littleness  of  those 
who  live  for  the  gay  world ;  as  a  sensible  gentleman,  he  at  least 
tried  to  make  the  gay  world  live  for  him.  In  other  words,  the 
amusements  and  pleasures  of  the  world  were  of  importance  to 
him  only  so  far  as  he  saw,  or  believed,  that  he  could  make  tliem 
minister  to  some  useful  end. 


SECTION   II. 

We  come  now  to  that  view  of  Mr.  Milnor's  character  and 
course,  which  opens  at  last  into  the  scenes  of  his  religious  life ; 
the  view  which  presents  him  as  a  political  man.  Politics  and 
religion  have  no  affinities  by  which  the  former  become  generative 
of  the  latter.  Their  most  frequent  relations  are  those  of  contrast 
and  of  conflict.  And  yet,  it  was  while  Mr.  Milnor  was  running 
his  political  career,  that  the  Lord  called  him  to  a  knowledge  of 
his  grace,  and  to  faith  in  his  name  :  a  change  of  deep  importance 
to  the  Church,  as  well  as  of  eternal  significance  to  himself. 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  45 

Mr.  Milnor's  political  opinions  seem  to  have  been  early  formed. 
Coming  to  the  study  and  the  practice  of  the  law  during  the 
administrations  of  "Washington  and  the  elder  Adams,  he  was 
prepared  by  previous  training  for  a  manful  support  of  the  Amer- 
ican doctrines  on  which  those  administrations  were  based.  From 
boyhood  he  was  a  Washington-federalist,  and  his  principles 
cleaved  to  him  unchangingly  through  life.  As  early  as  1798  he 
began,  in  his  diary,  to  insert  notices  of  political  events,  and  of 
his  own  views  respecting  them.  After  a  jaunt  into  the  country, 
which,  with  a  few  friends,  he  had  taken  on  the  15th  of  July  of 
that  year,  while  some  of  the  measures  of  the  elder  Adams  were 
agitating  the  nation,  he  inserted  in  his  diary  the  following  note ; 
furnishing,  indeed,  no  index  to  the  nature  of  his  political  opin- 
ions, but  illustrating  the  truly  generous  spirit  in  which  he  main- 
tained them. 

"  July  16. — In  the  afternoon  of  yesterday,  the  'Squire,  (Mr. 
Summers,)  Mr.  Swift,  Mr.  Jones,  and  myself,  had  a  dish  of  poli- 
tics. We  found  each  other,  notwithstanding  the  temper  of  the 
times  and  the  great  variance  in  sentiment  between  us,  little 
inclined  for  loggerheads.  When  men  hold  each  other  in  estima- 
tion, what  a  pity  that  a  difference  of  opinion  in  politics  should 
disunite  them.  There  is  only  one  case  in  which  I  would  despise 
a  man  for  his  opinions,  and  that  is,  when  he  makes  pretensions 
to  them  from  motives  of  self-interest ;  and  this,  whether  it  be  in 
a  pecuniary  way,  or  in  any  other  incompatible  with  honor  and 
the  real  amor  patriceP 

Upon  the  death  of  the  model  President,  he  entered  the  fol- 
lowing simple,  but  touching  note. 

"  February  22,  1800.— This  is  the  birthday  of  Washington. 
It  was  once  a  day  of  festivity  and  rejoicing ;  but  alas,  it  is  now 
spent  in  the  most  mournful  dejection.  Every  face  bears  lines 
of  deep  grief  strongly  marked.  Every  voice  sighs,  '  Washington 
is  no  more.'  The  man  '  first  in  war,  first  in  peace,  first  in  the 
hearts  of  his  countrymen,'  descended  to  the  tomb  of  his  ancestors 
on  the  15th  of  December,  1799  ;  and  Congress  have  recommended 
that,  on  this  day,  the  people  of  the  United  States  should  assem- 
ble in  their  respective  neighborhoods,  and  pay  honor  to  his  mem- 
ory by  suitable  eulogies,  orations,  etc." 


46  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

And  then,  after  alluding  to  the  three  orations  wliich  were  to 
be  pronounced  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  he  adds,  in  reference 
to  that  which  he  attended,  "  The  church  was  exceedingly 
crowded,  but  without  confusion.  A  suitable  awe  and  solemnity 
were  generally  observed,  and  every  party  consideration  seemed 
merged  in  universal  mourning  for  the  irreparable  loss  which  our 
country  has  sustained. 

"  0,  Washington,  when  will  mankind  have  another  friend  like 
thee?" 

A  new  change  in  the  scenes  by  which  the  French  Revolution 
was  accompanied,  in  its  progress  towards  the  enthronement  of 
Napoleon,  gave  occasion  to  the  following  reflections  in  Mr.  Mil- 
nor's  diary,  which  are  inserted  here  because  they  indicate  no 
little  political  sagacity,  and  show  that,  though  he  had  yet  been 
called  to  no  political  trust,  yet  with  his  well-knov^Ti  talents  for 
business  and  debate,  the  cast  of  his  mind  would  be  very  likely, 
ere  long,  to  point  him  out  to  his  fellow-citizens  as  a  suitable  can- 
didate for  some  one  of  the  various  offices  in  their  gift. 

"  March  20,  1800. — ^Another  constitution,  it  seems,  has  been 
adopted  by  the  French  nation.  Buonaparte  has  availed  himself 
of  his  popularity,  and  effected  a  complete  revolution.  The  old 
constitution  has  been  consigned  to  the  grave,  whither  several 
others  had  gone  before  it.  How  soon  the  new-fangled  essay  shall 
take  up  its  abode  with  them,  I  do  not  pretend  to  predict ;  for  I 
have  seen  too  many  wiser  political  prophets  than  myself  disap- 
pointed in  the  fulfilment  of  their  predictions,  to  be  myself  willing 
to  attempt  the  office.-  But  I  cannot  avoid  feeling  strongly  the 
expectation  that  a  system  like  the  present  cannot  last  for  ever. 
In  my  opinion,  either  the  odious  aristocracy  which  it  imposes  on 
the  people,  will  induce  them  to  prefer  a  restoration  of  the  ancient 
order  of  things,  or  still  further  efforts  will  be  made  to  establish  a 
constitution  more  congenial  with  the  principles  of  republicanism. 
Is  it  not  truly  extraordinary,  that  after  all  the  panegyrics  which 
the  French  writers  and  their  imitators  here  have  lavished  on 
'the  airy  fabric  of  a  vision'  which  has  just  vanished,  we  should 
now  hear  that  it  has  been  almost  unanimously  rejected,  and  the 
present,  with  equal  unanimity,  adopted  in  its  stead  ?  These  are 
changeful  times ;  but  the  successive  revolutions  in  France,  which 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  47 

have  followed  each  other  like  waves  on  the  sea-shore,  each  new 
order  of  things  swallowing  up  that  which  preceded  it,  have  aston- 
ished every  one,  and  baffled  all  calculation  as  to  political  events 
in  that  country.  To-day,  a  system,  apparently  the  idol  of  every 
Frenchman,  is  adopted ;  its  beauties  are  extolled  from  one  end  of 
the  nation  to  the  other,  and  you  would  suppose  every  citizen 
ready  to  risk  life  and  fortune  in  its  support.  To-morrow,  it  is 
declared  at  Paris  to  be  the  worst  of  all  wretched  contrivances, 
answering  none  of  the  beneficial  purposes  of  a  good  government. 
It  is  therefore  consigned  to  the  flames,  and  a  new  constitution, 
ready  cut  and  dried,  is  proposed  to  the  sovereign  people.  The 
sovereign  people  at  once  join  the  revolutionizers ;  every  one  exe- 
crates his  former  idol,  and  '  Live  the  nation  and  the  new  consti- 
tution,' instantly  becomes  the  general  cry. 

"  With  regard  to  the  views  of  Buonaparte,  who  has  obtained 
the  executive  chair,  under  the  denomination  of  '  chief  consul,' 
various  opinions  are  entertained.  Some  are  willing  to  believe 
him  honest ;  that,  tired  of  a  government  possessing  no  energy, 
he  has  brought  about  the  present  order  of  things  from  a  convic-, 
tion  that  it  promises  more  stability  and  permanency  to  the  con- 
stituted authorities  of  the  nation,  and  a  better  assurance  to  the 
people  of  an  enjoyment  of  liberty.  I  cannot  subscribe  to  this 
opinion.  The  appointment  of  the  several  departments  of  the 
government,  and,  in  fact,  every  article  of  the  new  constitution, 
shows  so  strongly  the  aristocratic  principles  upon  which  it  is 
built,  that  I  am  fully  satisfied  there  has  been  an  abandonment 
of  republican  principles  on  the  part  of  its  framers.  I  look  upon 
it  as  either  the  stepping-stone  to  monarchy,  or  the  result  of  a 
conspiracy,  on  the  part  of  its  present  supporters,  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  power  and  wealth  on  the  ruins  of  the  public  liberty. 
And  yet,  these  folks  still  brawl  about  liberty  and  equality.  They 
still  keep  up  the  farce  at  the  expense  of  the  sovereign  people ; 
who,  at  the  same  time  that  their  tongues  are  tied,  and  their 
pockets  drained  by  successive  lists  of  ambitious  usurpers,  are 
consoling  themselves  with  the  idea  of  the  abolition  of  monarchy, 
and  rejoicing  in  the  blessings  of  a  free  government.  I  protest,  I 
have  seen  nothing  like  rational  freedom  in  France  for  several 
years ;  and  yet,  after  all  their  follies  and  excesses,  and  the  mul- 


48  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

tiplied  injuries  which  they  have  heaped  upon  this  country,  I 
have  no  wish  that  they  should  be  brought  under  their  ancient 
despotism.  I  would  even  wish  them  a  republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, wise  and  solid  as  our  own ;  but  a  variety  of  reasons, 
which  I  have  not  now  time  to  note,  have  long  since  convinced 
me,  that  the  people  must  be  radically  altered  in  their  dispositions, 
habits,  and  modes  of  thinking,  before  this  can  take  place.  I  fear 
they  must  have  a  monarchy.  If  so,  I  hope  it  will  be  so  limited 
as  to  make  the  people  as  free  and  happy  as  that  form  of  govern- 
ment will  admit." 

It  is  needless  to  say,  his  fear  was  realized,  and  his  hope  dis- 
appointed. They  had  a  monarchy.  Napoleon,  at  length,  not 
only  filled  a  throne,  but  wore  imperial  insignia. 

From  a  note  in  his  diary,  of  about  this  date,  it  appears  that 
during  the  year  1800,  Mr.  Milnor  held,  by  election,  a  place  in  the 
city  council,  which,  if  municipal  rather  than  political,  was  yet  a 
discipline  for  public  life  on  a  wider  stage.     He  says, 

"  March  24, 1800. — This  evening  I  spent  at  Common  Council. 
Not  a  quorum.  How  blamable  it  is  in  men  to  accept  of  public 
trusts,  and  yet  neglect  the  discharge  of  the  duties  which  those 
trusts  involve.  I  find  my  seat  in  this  body  very  inconvenient  to 
me.  So  much  of  my  time  is  engrossed  by  the  business  of  the 
council — ^though  I  do  far  less  than  many  of  my  wprthy  fellow- 
members — ^that,  unless  I  alter  my  mind,  I  shall  certainly  avoid 
a  reelection  next  year.  And  yet  I  think  it  incumbent  on  me, 
while  I  retain  the  place,  to  contribute  my  small  endeavors  to- 
wards the  welfare  and  good  government  of  the  city." 

From  1800  to  1810,  the  notices  of  Mr.  Milnor's  life  are  scanty. 
That  he  continued  in  the  distinguished  and  successful  practice  of 
law,  and  in  his  accustomed  devotion  to  the  benevolent  and  liter- 
ary associations  of  the  day,  is  well  known ;  but  the  knowledge 
brings  us  no  facts,  because,  during  that  period,  or  at  least  till 
1809,  there  is  no  diary  extant,  nor  any  correspondence  preserved 
or  recoverable,  from  which  those  facts  can  be  obtained.  The 
most  that  are  known,  relate  to  his  political  career ;  and  even  of 
that  only  naked  facts  remain. 

Thus,  in  his  son's  "  Recollections,"  it  is  stated,  that  on  the 
8th  of  October,  1805,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Select 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  49 

Council  of  Philadelphia,  for  two  years,  in  place  of  Robert  Patter- 
son, who  resigned  his  seat  in  the  council  in  order  to  become  master 
of  the  United  States'  Mint ;  that  on  the  13th  of  October,  1807, 
he  was  reelected  for  three  years  to  the  same  body ;  and  that  on 
the  14th  of  October,  1808,  he  was  raised  to  the  preddency  of  the 
council  for  one  year ;  at  the  close  of  which,  October,  1809,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  change  in  the  political  majority  of  the  constituency, 
he  was  succeeded  in  that  office  by  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party ;  although  it  is  inferable  that  he  continued  a  mengiber  of  the 
council  till  the  close  of  the  three  years  for  which  he  was  elected^ 
or  till  October,  1810. 

These  naked  facts  are  all  that  can,  with  certainty,  be  stated 
of  his  public  political  course  until  the  year  1810.  This  date, 
however,  brings  us  to  the  period  at  which  he  became  more  wide- 
ly known  to  the  world,  and  after  which  there  is  less  lack  of  docu- 
ments wherewith  to  illustrate  his  character  and  the  principal 
events  of  his  life. 

In  October,  1810,  took  place  his  election  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  from 
the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia.  On  this  event  it  will  be 
interesting  to  pause  a  moment ;  for  when  we  remember  that  it 
was  in  Congress  he  became,  in  a  sense  before  unknown  to  him- 
self, a  subject  of  divine  teachings  and  of  heavenly  grace,  the  de- 
vout mind  will  be  ready  and  pleased  to  trace  the  hand  of  God  in 
the  circumstances  which  attended  his  election  to  a  seat  in  the 
great  council  of  the  nation.  ..   : 

The  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia  had,  in  1809,  given  token 
of  a  readiness  to  follow  other  parts  of  the  state  and  nation  in 
adopting  the  political  opinions  of  Jefferson  and  Madison.  And  it 
was  very  natural  to  infer,  that,  at  the  next  general  election, 
they  would  succeed  in  sending  a  representative,  of  the  same 
opinions,  to  the  halls  of  the  national  legislature.  It  was  under 
these  circumstances,  that  in  October,  1810,  a  committee  waited 
on  Mr.  Milnor  to  learn  whether  he  would  permit  his  name  to  be 
used,  as  a  candidate  to  represent — if  elected — his  native  city  in 
the  Congress  of  the  nation.  This  was,  to  his  mind,  a  new  and 
important  question  ;  and  he  could  not  at  onc^  give  his  answer. 
As  soon  as  the  committee  had  retired,  he  sent  for  his  confidential 

Mem.  Milnor.  4 


60  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

friend  and  brother  lawyer,  Thomas  Bradford,  Jr.,  desiring  hifn  to 
call  immediately,  on  business  of  great  importance.  His  friend 
instantly  obeyed  his  call ;  when,  after  mentioning  the  visit  and 
object  of  the  committee,  he  thus  addressed  him :  "  Knowing  as 
you  do  all  my  concerns,  private  and  public,  I  want  you  to  give 
me  your  opinion  whether  I  ought  to  accept  the  proposed  nomina- 
tion." "  This  is  a  serious  question,"  replied  his  friend ;  "  and  I 
must  have  time  to  consider  before  I  can  make  up  an  opinion." 
Mr.  Milnor  gave  him  till  three  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  same  day.  "  I 
left  him,"  says  Mr.  Bradford  in  his  "  Reminiscences,"  "  and  ex- 
amined the  matter  in  all  its  bearings  upon  his  professional  busi- 
ness, his  private  comforts,  and  the  situation  of  his  family  during 
his  absence  ;  and  came  to  the  clear  and  settled  opinion  that  he 
ought  not  to  accept.  At  the  time  appointed,  I  went  to  make  my 
statement  and  to  give  my  opinion ;  when,  to  my  surprise,  he 
informed  me,  that  during  my  absence,  the  committee  had  called 
again,  and  he  had  accepted  the  nomination.  He  did  not  perceive 
it,  but  the  footsteps  of  Providence  were  already  leading  him  to- 
wards his  conversion.  He  was  elected,  and  went  to  Washington" 
in  the  fall  of  1810,  or  early  in  January,  1811.  Says  his  son  in  his 
"Recollections,"  "He  consented"  to  become  a  candidate,  "with 
the  expectation,  and  almost  the  hope  of  being  defeated ;"  so 
tstrong  was  the  probability  against  his  election,  and  so  '^'  fearful 
was  he  that  his  success  would  prove  a  serious  detriment  to  his 
business.  His  election  was  a  proof  how  much  he  had  won  upon 
the  respect  and  love  of  his  fellow-citizens  ;  for  he  was  the  only 
federal  candidate  who  succeeded." 

And  had  he  waited  an  hour  for  his  friend's  advice,  he  proba- 
bly would  never  have  been  even  a  candidate  ;  and  thus,  to  human 
view,  all  the  coloring  which  the  work  of  the  Spirit  gave  to  his 
religious  character  during  his  congressional  life,  might  never 
have  appeared. 

His  letters  from  Washington  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  show  that  he 
took  his  seat  in  Congress  almost  immediately  after  his  election 
in  1810.  The  first  of  these  letters  which  has  been  preserved,  is 
dated  January  6,  1811,  and  merely  informs  her  of  his  safe  arri- 
val. On  the  9th  of  the  same  month  he  writes  again,  and  says 
that  he  had  been  to  dine  at  the  French  ambassador's,  had  attend- 


HIS   POLITICAL   CAREER.  51 

ed  Mrs.  Madison's  levee,  and  had  received  an  invitation  to  the 
British  minister's.  And  on  the  14th,  he  forwards  a  communioa- 
tion,  from  which  some  extracts  may  be  given  as  illustrative  of 
his  manner  of  life  at  "Washington,  and  as  evidence  that  he  went 
thither  to  do  the  business  of  his  country,  rather  than  to  engage 
in  the  dissipations  of  the  gay  capital. 

To  Mrs.  Eleanor  Milnor.  - 

"Washington,  January  14,  1811. 

"My  dear  Ellen — I  was  much  pleased  with  the  receipt  of 
your  very  acceptable  letter  by  Capt.  Kerr,  who,  with  Mr.  Joseph 
Lewis,  arrived  here  this  day.  They  have  just  left  me  for  their 
lodgings  in  Georgetown.  Mr.  William  Bethell  and  William 
Newbold  were  also  here  several  days,  and  dined  with  me  yester- 
day. The  arrival  of  my  first-named  friends  will  give  me  a  good 
deal  of  occupation,  so  long  as  they  remain,  as  it  will  be  my  duty 
and  pleasure  to  attend  them  so  far  as  my  duties  in  Congress  will 
permit.  To-morrow  I  dine  with  them  at  Mr.  Bowie's,  in  Greorge- 
town,  and  in  the  evening  accompany  them  to  the  drawing-room ; 
and,  if  possible,  I  intend  going  with  them,  next  day,  to  Alexan«- 
dria.     They  propose  to  remain  until  Sunday  next. 

"Yesterday,  I  made  the  longest  and  most  animated  speech 
which  I  have  yet  delivered ;  it  was  against  a  project  of  some  of 
the  wise  administration  folks  of  sending  the  militia  to  take  pos- 
session of  Canada.  But  why  do  I  trouble  you  on  subjects  in 
which  you  feel  so  little  concern  ?  My  friends  who  do  take  an 
interest  in  them,  will  see  my  remarks,  such  as  they  were,  in  the 
newspapers  in  a  few  days.  ,      ' 

"  Capt.  Kerr  says,  he  was  alniost  obliged  to  promise  our  little 
angel  to  bring  home  her  papa.  Would  it  were  in  her  papa's 
power  to  enable  the  captain  to  fulfil  such  a  promise.  Public 
business  progresses  so  slowly  and  unsatisfactorily,  and  my  family 
and  business  at  home  are  so  constantly  present  to  my  thoughts, 
that  I  cannot  boast  of  the  happiness  of  my  situation. 

"  You  have  in  my  letters  the  whole  extent  of  my  dissipation, 
which  I  would  willingly  forego  for  those  more  pleasing,  because 
less  formal  associations  with  my  friends,  of  which  I  partake 
when  at  home.  We  have  had,  however,  fine  weather  ;  and  Acre, 
even  that's  a  comfort ;  but  visiting  in  the  daytime  is  so  incom- 


52  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

patible  with  attention  to  my  public  duties  in  Congress,  our  ses- 
sions are  generally  protracted  to  so  late  an  hour — to-day,  till 
after  candlelight — and  our  dinners  are  consequently  so  late,  that 
there  is  no  visiting  of  families  till  after  nightfall ;  and  then  the 
distances  are  so  great,  and  the  walking  so  disagreeable,  or  car- 
riages so  difficult  to  be  had,  that  we  hardly  ever  attempt  it.  I 
have  never  yet  been  at  an  eyening  parti/,  except  Mrs.  Madison's  ; 
and  when  I  have  made  calls,  it  has  been  only  at  some  of  the 
lodging-houses  of  the  members  tolerably  near  our  own. 

"  I  often  think  it  a  little  curious,  that  after  so  much  talk 
about  the  dissipation  of  this  place,  I  should  not  have  seen  a  card 
played  since  I  have  been  here.  It  is  an  amusement  for  which 
I  have  not  the  slightest  desire. 

"  I  forget  whether  I  told  you  that  Saturday  next  is  the  birth- 
night  of  the  queen  of  England,  and  there  is  to  be  a  great  enter- 
tainment at  the  British  minister's,  to  which  I  am  invited,  where 
all  the  fashion  of  the  place  will  be  displayed  to  the  best  advan- 
tage ;  preferable  to  all  which  rareeshow  would  be  the  salutation 
of  my  aftectionate  partner  and  sweet  little  innocents,  in  the  old 
fashion  of  the  times  that  are  past. 

"  Ever  your  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

One  other  letter,  dated  "  Monday,  25,  1811,"  but  whether 
in  January  or  in  February  it  is  uncertain,  is  all  that  remains 
of  the  correspondence  of  this  his  first  winter  in  "Washington.  In 
this,  besides  a  little  pleasantry  about  family  matters  and  other 
things,  he  says, 

"  My  anxiety  respecting  my  family  and  business  is  often  very 
oppressive  to  my  feelings,  and  I  do  not  by  any  means  enjoy  my 
accustomed  rest.  The  want  of  exercise,  I  think,  makes  me 
fleshier  ;  and  although  I  uniformly  avoid  taking  supper,  yet  I  am 
always  disturbed  by  an  oppression  and  uneasiness  at  my  breast, 
long  before  the  morning  light.  I  accustom  myself  to  rise  with 
the  sun,  who  gladdens  my  room  the  moment  he  is  above  the 
horizon.  In  other  respects  than  the  circumstances  alluded  to,  I 
have  my  usual  health,  and  sometimes  my  usual  spirits,  but  often 
fall  considerably  below  par."  ;..'v>,  ; 

Although,  however,  these  are  all  that  remain  of  Mr.  Milnor's 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  •  53 

first  winter's  correspondence  from  Washington,  yet  they  are 
enough  to  show  that  he  was  there  early  in  1811 ;  that  he  conse- 
quently spent  three  winters  at  the  seat  of  governraent;  that, 
even  during  the  first,  he  was  not  an  idle  man  in  the  business  of 
the  nation;  and  that,  however  ho  may  have  entered  into  the 
gayeties  of  the  capital,  it  was  yet  with  moderation,  and  with  an 
evident  deadening  of  his  mind  towards  the  attractions  of  the 
world  of  pleasure. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1811,  after  his  return 
from  Washington  to  Philadelphia,  he  was  variously  occupied  in 
the  affairs  of  the  church,  as  a  delegate  to  our  Greneral  Convention 
in  New  Haven,  and  in  his  professional  business ;  till,  in  the  fall 
of  the  year,  October  28,  1811,  he  took  his  second  departure  for 
the  seat  of  government. 

On  this  occasion,  he  was  accompanied  by  a  number  of  his 
political  friends  as  far  as  th©  "  Blue  Bell  Tavern,"  on  the  Ches- 
ter road;  at  which  place  they  paid  him  the  compliment  of  a 
public  dinner.  He  reached  Washington  the  1st  of  November, 
and  took  lodgings  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Coyle,  with  Messrs. 
Chauncey  Goodrich  and  Samuel  W.  Dana,  of  the  senate,  and 
Josiah  Q,uincy  and  Timothy  Pitkin,  Jr.,  of  the  house,  as  his 
fellow-inmates.  Here,  as  he  states,  in  his  diary  resumed,  he 
"remained  during  an  eventful  session  of  eight  months'  continue 
ance,  which  resulted  in  a  most  calamitous  declaration  of  war 
against  Great  Britain."  ; 

Fqi  the  benefit  of  our  memoir,  this  session  was  as  prolific  in 
letters  from  him  as  in  events  to  the  nation.  It  is  from  these 
letters  chiefly,  that  illustrations  of  this  important  period  of  his 
political  life  will  be  drawn.  The  complexion  of  his  political  views 
we  have  already  seen ;  and  it  is  sufliciently  well  known  what  was 
our  attitude  towards  Great  Britain,  and  what  an  incubus  of  anxi- 
ety pressed  on  the  bosom  of  our  nation,  while,  for  eight  months, 
in  the  halls  of  Congress,  the  grim  Spirit  of  War  was  slowly,  but 
sternly  and  relentlessly  dragging  forth  his  materiel  of  passion 
and  prejudice  and  fierce  debate,  in  preparation,  once  more,  for  his 
bloody  work  of  death.  On  these  points,  therefore,  we  need  not 
touch,  but  may  proceed,  at  once,  to  look  at  the  part  which  Mr. 
Milnor  took  in  reference  to  them,  and  to   see   how  his  course 


54  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

t 
affected  him  in  his  personal,  political,  and  domestic  relations. 
For  light  on  these  topics,  we  pass  to  an  examination  of  his  letters; 
merely  remarking,  as  to  those  parts  of  them  which  are  purely 
domestic,  or  which  contain  descriptions  of  the  gayeties  of  the 
capital,  though  often  highly  interesting  as  specimens  of  familiar 
epistolary  writing,  that,  as  their  insertion  would  too  much  enlarge 
the  size  of  our  volume,  they  will,  for  the  most  part,  be  omitted. 
Paragraphs  relating  to  his  public  engagements  of  business  and 
of  ceremony,  and  an  occasional  extract  touching  himself  and  his 
family,  will  fill  such  space  as  may  be  at  our  command.-  The  for- 
mality of  address,  at  the  beginning  and  close  of  each  letter,  will 
also  be  omitted,  and  our  extracts  arranged  according  to  their 
dates,  giving  them  the  form  of  occasional  entries  in  a  diary  for 
the  eye  of  his  wife.  Unhappily,  none  of  his  many  contempora- 
neous letters  to  his  political  friends  and  correspondents  have  been 
preserved:  had  they  been  recoverable,  this  portion  of  his  life  would 
have  been  much  more  strikingly  illustrated. 

"Oct.  30,  1811. — Baltimore.  In  the  confusion  of  this  im- 
mense establishment  of  Gadsby's,  I  assume  my  pen  to  give  you 
the  first  information  of  my  progress.  My  good  friends,  three  or 
four  and  twenty  in  number,  who  accompanied  me  to  the  Blue 
Bell,  parted  with  me  without  descending  into  the  fi-olic  which 
you  had  anticipated.  It  was  indeed  a  '  feast  of  friendship  ;'  but 
the  feelings  excited  in  every  breast  at  this  parting  evidence  of 
regard,  were  calculated  to  prevent  the  slightest  tendency  towards 
the  extreme  of  festal  indulgence.  Capt.  Kerr,  with  his  wonted 
goodness,  offered  his  carriage  to  relieve  my  next  day's  ride,  by 
taking  me  on  to  Chester,  and  my  friend  Bradford  could  not  avoid 
adding  to  the  many  evidences  already  given  of  his  friendship,  by 
going  with  us." 

"Nov.  2, 1811. — Washington.  I  arrived  in  this  place  yester- 
day, in  time  for  dinner,  I  lose  no  time  in  acquainting  you  that 
I  have  procured  lodgings  at  Capt.  Coyle's,  near  the  capitol.  The 
people  appear  kind  and  friendly  ;  and  the  house  is  said  to  be  the 
best  furnished,  and  the  most  commodious  for  lodgers  in  this  city. 
Mr.  Q,uincy  is,  at  present,  my  only  fellow-inmate  ;  but  Mr,  Dana 
and  Mr.  Groodrich  are  expected.  The  mess  will  not  consist  of 
more  than  four  or  five  gentlemen ;  and  choice  could  not  have  done 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER:  55 

more  for  me  than  chance  has  done  in  the  persons  of  whom  it  is 
to,  consist." 

"  Nov.  3,  1811. — Sunday  evening.  I  had  scarcely  uttered  my 
complaint  of  the  insufficiency  of  my  writing  aiccoutrements  " — 
alluding  to  what  he  had  written  the  day  before  of  the  non-arrival 
of  his  trunk,  in  which  they  were  contained — "  when  I  found  my 
table  covered  with  ready-made  pens,  inkstand,  sand-box,  wafers, 
paper,  and  every  other  convenience  of  the  sort ;  with  which,  I  find, 
it  is  made  the  duty  of  an  attendant  of  the  house  to  supply  each 
member  at  his  lodgings.  This  evening  we  have  Mr.  Dana  of  Con- 
necticut added  to  our  mess  ;  wiiorh,  from  his  well-known  charac- 
ter, we  consider  a  valuable  acquisition.  Yesterday  Mr.  Q,uincy 
had  the  goodness  to  accompany  me  to  the  President's,  where  we 
left  our  cards  ;  his  Excellency  not  having,  as  yet,  become  acces- 
sible to  visitors.  He  is  almost  unremittingly  engaged  in  council 
with  the  heads  of  departments  on  the  subject  (as  i^  supposed) 
of  the  expected  message  to  both  houses.  It  is  thought  they  will 
each  form  a  quorum  to-morrow." 

"  Nov.  5,  1811. — We  have  at  length  had  our  first  meeting, 
formed  a  quorum,  and  elected  our  speaker  and  other  officers.  To- 
day, the  committees  will  be  appointed,  the  message  of  the  Presi- 
dent received,  and  general  business  proceeded  in.  Brother  Wil- 
liam's reputation  here  has  helped  me  wonderfully,"  in  making  calls 
of  ceremony  on  a  few  public  characters  and  some  private  families. 
"•  Greatly  as  I  knew  him  to  be  esteemed,  I  had  no  idea  that  his 
influence  extended  so  far  as  I  find  it  to  have  done.  Gentlemen 
of  the  first  respectability  for  talents  speak  of  him  as  a  man  of 
great  strength  of  mind,  and  as  a  pleasing  and  sensible  speaker  in 
the  house :  they  regret  exceedingly  that  he  was  not  reelected. 
Tell  him  that  my  seat  is  the  one  heretofore  occupied  by  Mr.  Pit- 
kin, and  that  I  wish  I  could  bring  into  it  as  much  good-sense  and 
information  as  that  worthy  and  intelligent  gentleman  possesses. 
Mr.  Quincy  sits  on  my  right,  and  Mr.  Bleecker,  a  new  and  very 
intelligent  member  from  Albany,  on  my  left." 

"Nov.  7, 1811. — Yesterday,  I  wrote  you  a  scolding  letter;  and 
if  the  one  received  from  William  had  not  relieved  my  mind  of  its 
anxiety  lest  some  untoward  circumstance  should  have  occurred, 
I  should  either  in  dudgeon  have  given  over  writing,  or  scolded 


.56  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

more  severely  than  ever.  And  even  now,  were  I  not  confident 
that  this  evening's  mail  will  bring  me  evidence  under  your  own 
hand  corroborative  of  his,  railing  would  be  my  only  employment. 
But  I  forbear,  and  only  hope,  in  a  few  days,  to  find  you  galloping 
along  in  your  wnriting-gears,  as  if  you  had  all  your  life  been  de- 
voted to  the  service.  I  wish  the  little  cherubs,  over  whose  slum- 
bers you  are  this  moment  watching  with  a  mother's  kindness  and 
affection,  were  old  enough  to  scribble  to  their  absent  father  ;  and 
I'll  answer  for  it,  the  mail  to  this  great  city  in  the  desert  would 
come  heavier  freighted.     But  no  more  of  this. 

"  Yesterday,  I  went  to  Georgetown  to  deliver  letters  of  intro- 
duction. I  found  it  much  more  of  a  city  than  this  magnificent 
metropolis.  I\Ir.  Quincy  and  I  afterwards  paid  pasteboard  visits 
to  the  British  and  French  Ambassadors,  the  Secretary  of  State, 
Secretary  of  War,  etc.,  etc." 

"  Nov.  11,  1811. — I  hope  you  will  not  seclude  yourself  from 
society.  Have  you  had  your  evening  party  ?  "When  were  you 
at  the  theatre  ?  Remember,  the  character  of  the  family  for 
attention  to  social  intercourse  is  already  almost  below  par.  It 
depends  on  you  to  prevent  it  from  entirely  sinking  during  my 
absence."  [He  had  other  views  of  social  intercourse  before 
many  months  had  passed.]  In  Congress,  "  We  make  slow  prog- 
ress, sitting  not  more  than  two  hours  a  day,  and  even  then  doing 
very  little  business.  For  myself,  I  feel  a  very  languid  degree  of 
interest  in  the  passing  scene,  and  fear  I  shall  never  be  able  to 
excite  in  myself  a  relish  for  public  duties  sufficient  to  secure 
for  their  discharge  the  application  of  what  little  talent  it  may 
be  my  lot  to  possess." 

•  "  Nov.  16,  1811. — A  long  letter,  with  which  I  was  grati- 
fied last  evening  from  my  friend  T.  Bradford,  informs  me  of 
the  continued  welfare  of  yourself  and  our  family.  When  the 
mail  arrives,  the  letters  for  each  family  of  lodgers  are  made  into 
several  packages.  A  bystander  would  be  amused  to  see  the 
eagerness  with  which  each  of  our  family  looks  for  his  letters, 
and  the  long  faces  of  those  who  happen  to  be  disappointed.  I 
hope  you  will  not  let  your  husband  be  often  laughed  at  on  this 
account."  [With  all  his  artifices  he  never  succeeded  in  making 
his  wife  a  letter- writer.]     "  Yesterday  I  made  my  first  appear- 


UlTIVFRSIT-  ' 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.     \^^  ^  5f 

^J  '01 

ance  on  the  floor  of  Congress,  except  that  once 
merely  to  present  a  petition.  The  few  observations  which  I 
made  were  on  an  interesting  subject ;  and'  probably  I  owe  to. 
that,  rather  than  to  any  thing  of  my  own,  a  compliment  which 
few  speakers  have  obtained  this  session'^a  most  profound  atten- 
tion from  the  house." 

By  his  "  first  appearance  on  the  floor  of  Congress,"  he  means 
the  first  this  session,  for  as  we  have  already  seen,  the  year  before 
he  .rose  repeatedly  to  the  discussion  of  topics  before  the  house. 

"  Nov.  18,  1811.- — Having  written  to  you  several  times 
since  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  any  communication 
from  you,  I  have  now  only  to  advise  you  of  my  continued  good 
health,  and  the  enjoyment  of  good  spirits  without  recourse  to 
any  of  that  dissipation,  which,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  was  so 
causelessly  apprehended  as  the  inevitable  concomitant  of  a  resi- 
dence in  this  place.  We  find  at  our  quarters,  at  those  moments 
when  business  or  study  requires  intermission,  ample  gratifica- 
tion in  each  other's  conversation,  without  resorting  to  any  of  the 
too  customary  expedients  for  passing  away  time.  The  pleasur- 
able indulgences  of  the  fashionable  world,  however,  have  not  yet 
commenced,  except  attendance  upon  the  weekly  levee  of  Mrs. 
Madison.  I  propose  complying  with  the  requirements  of  custom 
by  going  there  once,  probably  next  "Wednesday  evening ;  after 
which,  I  suspect,  my  visits  will  not  be  frequent." 

"  Nov.  18,  1811. — Evening.  I  fully  intended  to  leave  this 
place  to-morrow  morning  for  my  desired  home  ;  but  the  question 
on  the  apportionment  bill,  which  has  been  taken  this  afternoon, 
and  decided  in  favor  of  the  ratio  which  I  advocate" — he  has  been 
speaking  again — "is  left  in  such  a  situation  as  to  make  it  doubt- 
ful whether  it  may  not,  in  another  shape,  be  brought  up  again 
to-morrow  morning.  I  shall,  therefore,  be  reluctantly  obliged 
to  wait  till  Friday  morning;  but  I  shall  still,  if  no  accident 
occur,  reach  home  at  the  time  proposed." 

"  Nov.  24,  1811. — I  had  the  happiness  to  receive,  by  the 
mail  of  last  evening,  your  kind  and  affectionate  letter  of  the 
21st.  The  practice  of  letter- writing  is,  in  my  opinion,  one  of 
the  best  means  of  expanding  the  mind,  and  eliciting  those  latent 
powers,  which  in  most  individuals  only  want  cultivation  to  ex- 


58  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

hibit  them  to  advantage.  Facility  in  this  employment  is,  in  a 
good  degree,  the  result  of  habit ;  and  there  are  few  persons,  to 
whom  habit  does  not  render  it  both  easy  and  agreeable.  The 
ppets  talk  of  happy  moments  of  inspiration,  but  this  exercise  is 
adapted  to  all  occasions,  and  a  flow  of  easy  composition  will 
never  be  wanting,  if  indolence  do  not  prevent  the  beginning  of 
the  work ;  provided  the  best  affections  of  the  heart  prompt  the 
assumption  of  the  willing  and  obedient  pen.  For  my  own  part, 
I  boast  of  no  elegance  in  this  delightful  employment ;  but  it  is 
agreeable  to  me,  and  my  language,  such  as  it  is,  is  the  sponta- 
neous flow  of  natural  feeling,  without  any  labored  effort  after 
the  beauties  of  a  polished  and  ornamented  style.  I  speak  now 
of  my  letters  generally ;  but  with  reference  to  those  more  par- 
ticularly, which  I  write  to  the  proprietor  of  all  my  thoughts,  I 
should  disdain  giving  them  an  artificial  dress,  or  obscuring  by 
the  tinsel  decorations  of  language  the  overflowings  of  a  fond 
and  faithful  attachment,  reciprocated,  as  I  know  it  is,  by  as 
fond  and  faithful  a  return.  Insulated  as  I  am  in  a  plaOe  so  little 
like  that  whose  enjoyments  surround  you,  separated  from  my 
best  friends,  deprived  of  all  the  endearments  that  sweeten  the 
bitter  cup  of  human  existence,  my  chiefest  happiness  consists 
in  pouring  into  your  ear  the  effusions  of  an  undiminished  love, 
and  in  cherishing  the  sweet  evidences,  which  you  will,  I  hope, 
almost  daily  transmit  me,  of  its  being  repaid  with  a  full  measure 
of  that  regard  on  your  part,  which  I  prize  much  more  highly 
'  than  gold,  yea,  than  fine  gold.'  "  [Let  Mrs.  Milnor  resist  that 
argument  in  favor  of  frequent  letters,  if  she  can.]  '  .,  •    < 

After  having  attended  Mrs.  Madison's  levee,  where  he  met  a 
splendid  crowd  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
he  says,  in  a  letter  dated, 

"  Nov.  27,  1811. — ^Wednesday  night.  Looking  at  the  dreary 
aspect  of  this  wilderness  of  a  city,  I  could  not  have  anticipated 
a  collection  of  so  much  elegance  and  fashion ;  and  I  must  say 
that  Madam  performed  the  graces  of  her  drawing-room  with  great 
dignity,  affability,  and  ease.  At  several  times  during  the  course 
of  the  evening,  I  had  a  few  minutes'  conversation  with  her.  She 
had  heard  of  my  Quaker  extraction,  and  observed  that  neither 
of  us  were  very  faithful  representatives  of  that  respectable  sooi- 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  59 

ety.  Mr.  William  Sansom,  who  was  a  better  one,  dined  with 
me  to-day,  and  went  to  the  levee  in  the  evening.  To-day  I 
received  an  invitation  from  the  President  to  dine  with  him  on 
Friday  next ;  and  to-morrow  I  dine  at  Georgetown." 

"  Friday  evening,  Nov.  29,  1811. — I  have  dined  to-day  with 
the  President.  The  party  consisted  of  about  five  and  twenty. 
Mr.  Munroe  and  his  lady,  Mr.  Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
and  other  grandees  were  among  the  number.  To-morrow  Con- 
gress does  not  sit." 

"  Dec.  16,  1811. — We  are  making  slow  progress  with  the 
resolutions  relating  to  preparations  for  the  war  with  Great  Brit- 
ain. I  begin  to  fear  that  the  resolutions  will  not  be  disposed  of 
before  the  time  fixed  for  my  return  home.  My  friends  make 
great  objections  to  my  leaving  before  they  are  disposed  of;  but 
I  shall  make  every  effort  to  get  away.  This  suggestion  is  merely 
in  order,  if  I  should  be  delayed  a  day  or  two  longer  than  I  expect, 
that  you  should  not  attribute  it  to  indisposition,  or  any  other 
cause  than  the  unavoidable  detention  of  public  business." 

He  visited  Philadelphia  during  the  Christmas  holidays  ;  and, 
in  his  first  letter  after  his  return  to  Washington,  dated  "  Jan- 
uary 8,  1812,"  after  describing  a  cold,  perilous,  inland  winter 
journey,  via  Lancaster,  and  across  the  Susquehanna  on  the  ice, 
in  a  black  night,  against  furious  winds,  and  obliged  to  walk, 
with  gentlemen  and  lady  passengers,  by  the  aid  of  guides  and 
lanterns,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  shore  to  shore,  amidst  broken 
fragments  of  ice,  and  many  involuntary  prostrations,  he  adds, 

"  I  arrived  here  before  the  house  had  adjourned,  and  in  time 
to  vote  on  the  army  bill.  My  friends  received  me  with  the  most 
affectionate  welcome,  and  I  am  now  reinstated  in  my  old  lodg- 
ings. If  well  enough,  I  shall  attend  iny  friends  Dana,  Pitkin, 
and  Quincy,  to-day,  to  a  dinner  given  by  the  French  ambassador, 
M.  Serrurier." 

"  Jan.  13,  1812. — I  am  quite  recovered  from  the  cold  and 
fever" — caused  by  his  wintry  journey — "  and  was  able  to-day  to 
make  a  speech,  of  some  length,  on  the  volunteer  bill."  > 

The  gay  season  at  Washington  had  now  set  in ;  and  we  ac- 
cordingly find,  in  his  letter  of  <<  Jan.  19,  1812,"  the  following 
reference  to  what  was  expected  at  the  British  minister's. 


60  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  All  the  fashionables,  I  am  told,  are  on  the  tiptoe  of  expec- 
tation for  Mr.  Foster's  ball  and  supper  to-morrow  night.  Two 
hundred  people  are  expected  there  ;  but  so  far  from  anticipating 
it  with  pleasure,  I  wish  it  were  over ;  for,  although  etiquette 
obliges  me  to  go,  yet,  as  I  know  very  few  of  the  company,  as  I 
cannot  dance  and  ivill  not  game,  I  do  not  look  forward  to  the 
gala  with  any  pleasure."  \  "      ■      ^ 

"Jan.  23,  1812. — ^AVe  are  here,  listening  day  after  day  to 
debates,  which,  from  their  prolixity,  have  become  tiresome,  on 
the  subject  of  making  an  addition  to  the  navy ;  in  which,  besides 
the  mortification  of  being  sentenced  to  the  punishment  of  listen- 
ing so  long  to  so  many  dull  speeches,  we  shall  have  that  of  being 
completely  defeated  in  our  views." 

"  Jan.  25, 1812. — The  long  pendency  of  the  question  respect- 
ing an  increase  of  the  navy,  makes  our  day's  work  drag  heavily ; 
but  I  presume  it  is  now  near  a  determination.  I  fully  intended 
to  have  made  a  speech  upon  this  subject,  as  it  is  one  in  which 
the  commercial  interests  of  our  city  are  so  deeply  involved ;  but 
our  party  concluded  it  was  best  to  leave  the  debate  in  the  hands 
of  the  majority  until  near  the  close,  as  there  are  several  able 
advocates  of  the  navy  among  themselves ;  and  it  was  thought 
our  interference  would  only  be  calculated  to  inflame  the  minds 
of  the  more  violent  of  their  party  against  the  bill  as  a  federal 
measure.  Two  of  our  members  submitted  a  few  observations 
yesterday  and  the  day  before  ;  and  to-day,  Mr.  Q,uincy-made  the 
best  speech  which  has  been  delivered  on  either  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. I  have  not  positively  concluded  on  my  own  course  on  Mon- 
day, when  the  debate  is  to  be  renewed.  Every  possible  argu- 
ment has  been  so  forcibly  urged,  and  so  fully  illustrated,  that  I 
can  hardly  think  of  taking  the  floor  only  to  travel  over  the  same 
ground  which  others  have  travelled  before  me.  I  am  mortified 
at  not  having  had  an  earlier  opportunity  of  coming  forward  on  a 
question  of  so  much  importance  ;  but  in  deference  to  gentlemen 
of  older  standing  in  the  house,  I  was  induced  to  acquiesce  in  the 
silence  agreed  upon  in  the  first  part  of  the  discussion,  as  well  as 
to  give  precedence  to  the  gentlemen  of  our  party,  who  have 
already  spoken.  And  now,  the  subject  is  so  worn  out,  that  even 
the  masterly  display  of  it  by  Mr.  Q,uincy,  in  a  form  of  as  much 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  >Q1 

novelty  as  the  nature  of  the  case  would  admit,  could  scarcely 
secure  the  attention  of  the  house.  If  brother  William,  or  my 
friend  T.  B.,  or  any  other,  should  inquire  whether  I  have  spoken 
on  the  navy  question,  and  my  reason  for  not  doing  so,  you  will 
give  that  which  I  have  stated.  An  apprehension  of  censure  for 
holding  back,  as  it  would  seem,  on  a  question  in  which  the  mer- 
cantile part  of  the  community  feel  a  great  interest,  gives  me 
uneasiness ;  but  it  arose  from  the  circumstances  abovementioned ; 
and  the  business,  I  am  satisfied,  has  been  better  managed  by 
others  than  it  would  have  been  by  me.  Besides,  I  am  by  no 
means  alone  in  my  disappointment." 

"Jan.  28,  1812." — Speaking  of  the  entertainments  which 
he  had  attended,  he  says,  "  The  pleasure  which  I  have  at  these 
parties  is,  to  meet  and  converse,  in  the  course  of  the  evening, 
with  many  intelligent  persons,  from  whom  much  information  of 
a  general  nature,  as  well  as  in  relation  to  the  public  business 
which  from  time  to  time  occupies  our  attention,  may  be  derived. 
Tt  serves  also  to  relieve  the  oppressive  tedium,  arising  from  the 
continued  sameness  of  our  daily  routine  of  engagements,  wholly 
destitute  as  these  are  of  that  exhilarating  variety  and  interest 
which  my  professional  business  and  other  avocations  at  home 
supply." 

It  is  true  that  he  patronized  by  his  presence  the  dancing  and 
the  gaming,  of  which  he  says  he  did  not  partake ;  yet,  from  the 
above  extract,  we  must  give  him  at  least  the  credit  of  being,  in 
the  midst  of  his  gayeties,  a  sensible  man. 

"Jan.  30,  1812. — The  account  of  my  political  career,  and 
the  small  part  which  I  take  in  the  affairs  of  the  nation,  it  would 
be  uninteresting  to  detail  to  you.  These  things  I  reserve  for 
those  of  my  own  sex,  who  feel  an  interest  in  the  passing  events 
of  the  world's  politics,  and  are  always  anxious  to  hear  of  the 
scenes  acted  in  the  councils  of  the  country,  at  this  critical  and 
eventful  period.  Indeed,  I  feel  less  interest  in  them  myself,  than 
perhaps  an  actor  should ;  much  less  than  many  mere  spectators 
of  the  comic-tragedy  performances  which  are  daily  exhibited  at 
the  capitol.  It  is  sickening  to  hear  the  eternal  brawlings  of 
clamorous  demagogues  for  war,  while  a  pitiful  love  of  office,  or 
fear  of  displacement,  prevents  their  putting  forth  courage  enough 


62  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  ' 

to  provide  the  proper  means  for  so  awful  a  state  of  things.  This 
consideration  will,  of  itself,  be  sufficient  to  prevent  war " — his 
prophecy  was  not  fulfilled — "though  it  may  prolong  the  session, 
in  order  to  give  full  time  and  scope  for  the  oratory  of  the  heroes 
who  like  to  talk  about  it." 

But,  if  ladies  felt  little  interest  in  mere  political  details,  he 
concluded  they  were  not  indifferent  to  the  manner  in  which  their 
husbands  passed  their  time ;  and  therefore,  after  a  few  farther 
paragraphs,  he  proceeded  to  give  a  short  account  of  himself 
under  this  head. 

"  The  forepart  of  each  day,  that  is,  from  my  time  of  rising 
till  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock,  I  spend  in  my  chamber,  chiefly  in 
answering  the  numerous  letters  which  I  receive;  but  when  that 
duty  does  not  require  the  whole  time,  the  residue  I  devote  to 
useful  reading.  My  public  duty  then  requires  my  attendance  at 
the  capitol,  and  there  I  remain  till  the  hour  of  adjournment, 
which  is  frequently  as  late  as  four  or  half-past  four  o'clock.  If 
not  invited  out  to  dine,  the  dessert  to  every  day's  dinner  at  home 
is  the  letters  and  newspapers  which  the  mail  brings  to  the  dif- 
ferent gentlemen  of  our  mess ;  and  a  great  regale  they  very 
often  furnish.  Our  evenings  at  home  are  generally  in  great  part 
spent  in  our  respective  chambers ;  though  sometimes  we  step 
into  one  of  the  neighboring  boarding-houses,  or  receive  calls  from 
some  of  our  friends.  The  frequent  visits  of  gentlemen  from 
Philadelphia  tend  to  give  a  little  variety  to  the  scene." 

"  Feb.  1, 1812. — I  went  with  Mr.  Astley  yesterday,  at  twelve 
o'clock,  to  the  President's,  in  fulfilment  of  a  promise  he  had 
made  to  Miss  M.,  to  wait  upon  her  for  letters  to  her  father  and 
friends  in  Philadelphia;  but  the  day  being  fine,  she  had  gone 
out  visiting  with  Mrs.  Madison.  The  call,  however,  enabled 
me  to  see  the  President  upon  some  congressional  business  about 
which  I  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  him.  I  have  been  much 
neglected  by  my  friends  in  the  way  of  letter- writing,  since  my 
return  to  this  place.  Except  yours,  I  know  not  that  I  have 
received  one  letter  of  mere  friendship.  The  diminution  of  the 
number  of  those  on  congressional  affairs  I  do  not  so  much  regret 
as  I  do  the  increase  of  those  of  another  description ;  I  mean, 
applications  for  office,  particularly  for  appointments  in  the  new 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  63 

army.  If  I  were,  as  I  thank  God  I  am  not,  of  the  ruling  party, 
I  could  not  be  more  importuned.  This  is  disagreeable,  because 
it  involves  the  alternative  either  of  disobliging  the  applicants,  or 
of  condescending  to  ask  favors  of  people  against  whose  doings, 
as  the  servants  of  the  public,  I  am  often  compelled  to  be  opposed. 

"We  make  progress  in  our  war  measures,  having  the  militia 
bill  now  before  us ;  but  the  war-fever  seems  every  day  to  decline. 
Our  valiant  warriors  begin  to  count  the  cost ;  and  they  tremble 
for  their  places  when  the  people  begin  to  feel  the  pecuniary  bur- 
dens which  war  will  render  inevitable." 

As  the  following  illustrates  his  domestic  feelings  as  well  as 
any  other  of  the  numerous  paragraphs  of  a  likes  character  with 
which  his  letters  abound,  it  is  inserted  in  its  place.  The  husband 
and  the  father  were  stronger  in  him  than  the  politician  was  likely 
ever  to  become. 

"  Feb.  3,  1812. — Your  last  letter  was  written  ten  days  ago, 
and  Henry  was  then  confined  by  illness  to  the  nursery.  Since 
then  no  one  has  written  me  a  single  line.  My  forebodings  are 
awful  beyond  measure.  I  went  to  bed  last  night  at  an  early 
hour,  to  drown  in  the  forgetfulness  of  sleep  my  gloomy,  harassing 
reflections.  But  the  bed  was  no  bed  of  rest  to  me.  This  morn- 
ing I  was  up  with  the  dawn.  I  saw  the  glorious  sun  rise  in 
resplendent  lustre,  and  hailed  his  welcome  return.  I  wandered 
abroad,  and  rambled  for  two  hours  before  breakfast.  Nothing 
but  the  verdure  of  spring  was  wanting  to  give  this  charming 
morning  all  the  exhilarating  delights  of  that  charming  season. 
My  contemplations  have  resulted  in  more  serenity  of  mind,  and 
a  confidence  in  the  goodness  of  divine  Providence  inspires  me 
with  hope.  Yet  why  this  unaccountable  silence  ?  God  grant  it 
may  have  arisen  from  your  irremovable  dislike  to  writing,  or 
from  neglect,  or  even  forgetfulness  of  me,  rather  than  from  the 
dreadful  cause  which  I  have  anticipated.  If  trouble  has  assailed 
our  peaceful  mansion,  let  me  become,  I  charge  you,  an  early 
sharer  of  it.  It  is  my  right;  duty  as  well  as  aflection  entitles 
me  to  claim  this  at  your  hands.  No  public  responsibility  shall 
detain  me  here,  if  home  demands  my  presence.  If  another  vis- 
itation of  Almighty  God  has  fallen  upon  us,  let  me  come  and 
alleviate  your  griefs." 


64  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"Feb.  7,  1812." — Having  received  a  letter  which  relieved 
his  fears  for  his  son,  he  prqceeds  with  his  usual  topics;  alluding, 
among  other  things,  to  a  great  entertainment  which  was  expected 
to  come  off  at  the  British  minister's,  and  adding,  "The  policy  of 
the  minister  is  evident.  His  course  has  a  tendency  to  _allay  a 
little  the  heat  of  party  animosity  against  his  country,  and  keep 
the  folks  in  good-humor.  He  must  take  care  not  to  overdo  the 
business,  and  thereby  excite  the  jealousy  and  resentment  ctf  those 
in  power." 

"Feb.  22,  1812. — On  Monday  I  am  engaged  to  dine  at  Dr. 
Eustis',  the  Secretary  of  War,  with  a  large  party ;  so  that  you 
see  the  folks  here  are  making  themselves  very  merry  just  on  the 
eve  of  a  war,  as  some  suppose ;  and  no  one  contributes  more  to 
the  merriment  than  the  minister  of  the  nation  which  we  are 
threatening  to  attack.  He  had  another  evening  party  on  Thurs- 
day, to  which  he  gave  me  an  invitation;  but  1  was  previously 
engaged,  and,  if  I  had  not  been,  should  have  thought  it  best  not 
to  appear  too  often  in  so  suspicious  a  place ;  though,  in  fact,  no 
persons  are  more  fond  of  going  there  than  the  war  advocates 
themselves."  -  r; 

"  We  go  upon  the  new  taxes  on  Monday  next,  and  expect  to 
see  war  in  the  ivigwam.  They  still  talk  of  a  long  session,  bust 
some  think  it  will  be  impossible  to  keep  as  many  members 
here  as  will  be  requisite  to  do  the  public  business,  throughout 
all  April.  Several  have  already  gone  home  sick,  and  others 
begin  to  complain — ^the  northern  men  of  its  being  too  hot,  and 
the  southern  of  its  being  too  cold.  For  my  own  part,  though  I 
groan  a  little,  now  and  then,  for  want  of  exercise,  yet  I  never 
felt  better  than  I  now  do ;  so  for  the  present^  I  have  no  excuse 
of  that  kind  to  make."  x 

^  "  March  1,  1812."— ^Speaking  of  his  purpose  "not  to  indulge 
his  wife  with  another  line  till  encouraged  to  it  by  her,"  he  adds, 
"I  believe,  upon  the  whole,  I  have  punished  myself  more 
severely  than  the  flagrant  little  offender  for  whom  it  was  in- 
tended. This  is  the  kind  of  folly  to  which  the  boys  allude,  when 
they  speak  of  a  man's  biting  his  own  nose  off  to  spite  his  face, 
and  which  many  wiser  persons,  in  the  world's  estimation,  run 
into,  when,  in  order  to  gratify  their  passions  to  the  injury  of 


mS   POLITICAL   CAREER.  65 

others,  they  inflict  severer  wounds  upon  themselves.  You  and 
I  know  a  memorable  instance  of  this  in  the  only  man  who  ever, 
to  my  knowledge,  cherished  towards  me  a  personal  enmity.  In 
the  indulgence  of  an  unhappy  temper  of  mind  towards  all  around 
him,  the  effects  of  his  ill-nature  are  continually  recoiling  upon 
himself,  and  every  one  sees  that,  in  all  his  purposes  of  vengeance, 
he  is  himself  the  severest  sufferer.  I  bless  Grod,  that  with  a 
thousand  of  the  frailties  of  human  nature,  this  is  not  a  '  sin 
that  easily  besets'  me.  There  is  not  a  human  being  in  exist- 
ence, upon  whom  I  would  willingly  and  knowingly  inflict  a 
moment's  suffering ;  and  the  greatest  pleasure  I  have  ever  en- 
joyed, has  been  in  healing  the  strifes  of  others,  and  in  being — in 
a  very  inconsiderable  degree,  to  be  sure,  yet  as  far  as  I  could — 
instrumental  in  adding  to  the  sum  of  human  happiness.  You 
see,  my  love,  how  good  sometimes  flows  out  of  evil.  I  began  to 
chide  a  little — well,  that  you  will  agree  was  wrong ;  but  I  have 
ended  with  a  moral  reflection,  and  that,  were  it  not  for  the  ego- 
tism which  it  involves,  you  will  equally  agrefe  is  very  right,  and 
altogether  suitable  as  a  matin  employment  of  the  sacred  day." 
[More  suitable  than  what  he  presently  adds.]  "  During  the  past 
week,  the  business  of  the  house  has  excited  more  than  usual 
interest,  by  the  discussion  of  the  new  taxes  proposed  to  be  raised 
for  carrying  on  their  ridiculous  project  of  war  against  Great 
Britain.  In  these  debates,  the  federalists  have,  by  an  under- 
standing among  themselves,  from  motives  of  policy,  taken  no 
part.  Our  only  employment  in  this  department  of  the  public 
business  is,  to  listen  and  vote.  There  has  been  but  little  speak- 
ing among  the  majority  njembers  worth  hearing,  but  the  expec- 
tation of  some  oratorical  effusions  of  more  importance,  and  the 
fineness  of  the  weather,  have  every  day  filled  our  galleries  with 
the  fashionable  belles  of  Washington  and  Georgetown." 

"  April  3,  1812. — I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I 
arrived  in  Washington  about  two  o'clock  to-day,  quite  well, 
though  under  the  pressure  of  great  bodily  fatigue,  not  having 
slept  since  I  left  you."  [He  had  been  on  a  visit  to  Philadelphia.] 
"I  immediately  changed  my  clothes  and  went  to  the  house, 
where  my  appearance  was  hailed  with  a  joy  and  affection  from 
my  political  friends  much  beyond  any  merits  of  mine,  or  any 


66  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

service  which  I  can  render  by  being  here.  Already,  however,  I 
have  been  warmly  at  work,  though,  owing  to  the  secrecy  enjoined, 
I  can  give  no  account  beyond  what  is  already  known,  either  to 
my  political  friends  or  to  you." 

"  April  17,  1812." — ^A  disposition  to  grant  a  short  recess  of 
Congress,  as  a  relief  to  the  weary  members,  had  recently  been 
manifested  by  the  majority,  who  held  the  reins  of  power ;  but 
under  this  date,  he  says,  "  The  majority,  with  whom  the  propo- 
sal originated,  have  changed  their  minds,  and  now  evince  a  deter- 
mination to  continue  the  session  until  the  question  of  war  with 
England  shall  have  been  decided.  This  is  greatly  to  be  lamented, 
because  it  will  equally  violate  my  sense  of  duty,  and  the  expec- 
tation of  my  friends  in  Philadelphia,  to  be  absent  at  so  interest- 
ing a  crisis.     Indeed,  that  is  absolutely  out  of  the  question." 

Almost  immediately  after  the  last  date,  a  severe  fit  of  the 
gout,  of  which  he  writes  many  amusing  accounts  to  his  wife, 
detained  him  from  the  house,  except  that  he  once  hobbled  down 
by  the  aid  of  a  friend  and  a  staff,  in  order  to  give  his  vote,  in  vain, 
in  favor  of  the  proposed  temporary  adjournment  of  Congress.  At 
length,  however,  on  the  1st  of  May,  he  wrote  from  his  seat  in  the 
house,  that  he  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  attend  again 
to  business,  by  wearing  a  very  easy  slipper.  But  his  health  had 
suffered  so  much,  that  after  a  few  days'  hard  service,  in  which, 
as  we  shall  see,  he  made  one  eventful  speech,  he  obtained  leave 
of  absence,  and  remained  at  home  till  near  the  20th  of  May. 
Hence  he  writes, 

"  May  21,  1812. — I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  my 
safe  arrival  at  this  place,  (Washington,)  yesterday  afternoon. 
Congress  have  had  no  session  for  two  days,  owing  to  the  Speaker, 
Mr.  Clay,  having  received  an  injury  by  a  fall  from  his  horse ; 
but  I  am  told  he  is  sufficiently  recovered  to  attend  in  his  place 
to-day." 

"  May  26,  1812. — ^You  used  often  to  wish  for  the  arrival  of 
the  Hornet,  because  that  event  promised  to  put  an  end  to  this 
tedious  session.  Well,  the  Hornet  has  at  length  arrived,  and 
disappointed  the  hopes  of  Napoleon's  friends.  They  had  fondly 
expected  from  the  universal  robber  a  degree  of  justice  and  even 
of  affection  towards  this  country,  which  a  knowledge  of  his 


mS    POLITICAL  CAREER.  67 

character  ought  to  have  told  them  was  impossible.  What  effect 
this  will  have  upon  the  continuance  of  our  session  is  uncertain. 
The  ruling  party  are  quite  chopfallen,  and  as  yet  undetermined 
upon  the  course  which  they  are  to  take :  whether  to  continue 
their  project  of  war  against  England  only,  or  to  wage  it  against 
both  England  and  France ;  or  to  stop  short,  and  let  the  session 
end  as  it  began.  This  state  of  incertitude  may  continue  for 
some  time ;  and  if  either  of  the  first  two  plans  which  I  have 
mentioned  should  be  adopted,  more  time,  I  presume,  will  be 
frittered  away  in  making  further  preparations  of  a  warlike 
nature." 

"  June  6, 1812.— Whatever  claims  my  greater  age  and  longer 
close  attention  to  business,  and  acquisitions  of  property,  may 
have  given  me  upon  the  suffrage  of  my  fellow-citiziens,  and 
however  these  things  may  have  justified  me  in  yielding  to  their 
request  to  leave  my  own  concerns  and  attend  to  theirs,  I  shall 
never  be  unwilling  to  acknowledge  the  indiscretion  of  my  de- 
cision, and  its  prejudicial  consequences.  It  is  true,  I  neither 
contemplated  the  event  of  my  election  as  probable,  nor  antici- 
pated, in  case  of  so  unexpected  an  occurrence,  such  a  wearying 
session  as  this  has  been.  Had  the  latter  circumstance  been 
expected,  I  would,  even  after  the  commencement  of  the  session, 
have  made  arrangements  for  having  my  family  here;. in  which 
case  the  loss  of  personal  comfort  would  not  have  been  added  to 
the  ruinous  loss  of  business,  which  I  now  fear  will  be  the  effect 
of  my  continued  absence  from  it." 

As  to  the  close  of  the  session,  "  The  war  people,  in  whose 
hands  our  fate  is  held,  talk  of  the  beginning  of  July,  of  the 
middle  of  that  month,  or  of  the  first  of  August,  as  the  whim 
of  the  moment,  their  own  information,  or  their  want  of  infor- 
mation ^uggestSi  My  fears,  I  confess,  make  me  look  at  the 
most  remote  of  the  above  periods  as  that  most  likely  to  disperse 
us.  Congress  is  now  fuller  than  it  has  been  at  any  time  during 
the  session,  our  house  wanting  but  nine  of  its  full  complement ; 
and  of  these  nine,  one  has  died  and  another  resigned ;  so  that 
only  seven  actual  members  are  absent. 

■  "  The  important  discussions,  in  which  we  have  been  engaged 
during  this  week  within  closed  doors,  lead  to  results  that  will 


68  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

greatly  prolong  the  session.  New  duties,  direct  taxes,  and  all 
the  machinery  necessary  for  carrying  on  the  war,  which  these 
mad  people  are  determined  to  wage  against  Great  Britain,  must 
necessarily  consume  much  time  in  their  consideration.  Whether 
we  shall  be  shut  up  from  public  view  when  these  measures  come 
under  discussion,  I  know  not.  If  we  are,  though  our  minds  may 
be  Vexed,  yet  our  bodies  will  be  comforted ;  for  our  hall  is  abun- 
dantly cooler  when  strangers  are  excluded,  than  when  we  sit 
with  crowded  galleries.  I  can't  say  that  our  gentlemen-com- 
moners are  influenced  by  this  consideration  to  close  the  doors 
against  their  fellow-citizens,  yet  I  believe  their  whole  detail  of 
reasons  for  this  anti-republican  proceeding  does  not  furnish  a 
better." 

"  June  17,  1812. — The  interesting  question,  to  which  all  the 
proceedings  of  this  long  session  have  tended,  still  remains  un- 
decided in  the  Senate" — the  House,  it  seems,  had  settled  it — 
"  though  it  may  probably  receive  its  final  decision  in  that  body 
to-day.  Whether  war  be,  or  be  not  the  result,  I  trust  the  neces- 
sity of  our  remaining  together  cannot  last  much  longer." 

"  June  20,  1812. — ^Were  it  not  that  several  matters  are  still 
depending  in  which  my  constituents  are  much  interested,  I  would, 
for  myself,  break  loose  the  latter  end  of  this  week.  On  one  of 
these  measures,  the  question  of  double  duties  on  imported  goods, 
I  spoke  yesterday;  and  if  another,  the  relaxation  of  the  non- 
importation law,  were  disposed  of,  I  should  feel  myself  at  liberty 
to  go.  A  few  days  more  will  give  me  a  clearer  prospect,  both  as 
to  the  probable  duration  of  the  session,  and  as  to  my  own  duty 
in  either  remaining  till  the  end,  or  breaking  loose  a  little  sooner." 

Two  days  after  the  last  date,  he  asked,  and  obtained  leave  of 
absence  for  the  remainder  of  the  session,  and  yet  the  privilege 
thus  granted  remained  unused.  The  following  extract  explains 
the  reasons. 

"  June  26,  1812. — It  is  a  great  disappointment  not  to  be  able 
to  leave  Washington  to-day,  as  I  had  promised  myself  I  should 
do.  Two  reasons  have  detained  me.  In  the  first  place,  we  " — a 
committee  of  which  he  was  one — "  are  about  publishing  a  pam- 
phlet, containing  the  reasons  of  the  federalists  in  Congress  for 
voting  against  the  war ;  and  I  wish  to  be  here  when  it  is  ready 


HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.  69 

for  circulation,  in  order  to  use  my  franking  privilege  in  sending 
copies" — he  had  subscribed  for  one  hundred — "to  gentlemen  in 
various  places.  In  the  second  place,  it  is  expected  that  within  a 
few  days  some  interesting  questions  may  arise,  in  which  a  single 
vote  will  be  of  consequence ;  and  I  should  be  much  censured  by 
my  friends,  as  well  as  by  my  own  feelings,  were  I,  without  the 
most  pressing  necessity,  to  leave  my  post  at  such  a  time." 

The  pamphlet  mentioned  in  this  extract,  is  an  able  document 
of  twenty-four  closely  printed  octavo  pages,  entitled,  "An  Address 
of  Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  to  their  Constituents,  on  the  subject  of  the 
War  with  Great  Britain  ;"  entering  at  length  into  the  argument 
on  the  war  question,  and  signed  by  thirty-four  federal  members 
of  the  House,  of  whom  Mr.  Milnor  was  one.  As  a  public  docu- 
ment, further  reference  to  it  in  this  place  may  be  considered 
needless. 

At  length,  the  early  part  of  July,  the  great  session  closed, 
and  Mr.  Milnor  was  again  at  home  and  at  his  business ;  while 
the  war,  which  with  others  he  had  vainly  striven  to  avert,  was 
preparing  to  blaze  over  the  breadth  and  length  of  our  land.  The 
extracts  thus  far  made,  give  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  his  activity 
in  Congress  during  the  ripening  of  our  hostile  preparations.  The 
letters  to  his  political  friends,  in  which  that  activity  was  more 
fully  detailed,  have  been  lost.  We  can  therefore  only  say,  in 
general,  that,  through  the  session,  he  was  truly  a  working-mem- 
ber,  in  committees  and  on  the  floor  of  the  House  ;  and  a  man  of 
influence,  so  far  as  influence  from  his  side  was  practicable,  both 
within  and  without  the  halls  of  Congress. 

But  one  thing  remains  to  be  noticed,  before  we  pass  to  a  brief 
review  of  his  last  session,  which  was  also  the  close  of  his  politi- 
cal career.  To  that  one  thing  we  have  already  alluded,  when 
speaking  of  a  certain  ^^ eventful  speech''''  which  he  delivered  on 
the  last  day  of  April,  while  as  yet  but  imperfectly  recovered 
from  his  severe  fit  of  the  gout.  To  the  circumstance  which  made 
that  speech  eventful,  the  following  extract  from  one  of  his  letters 
refers. 

"June  20,  1812. — I  am  very  much  pained  to  hear  that  a 
report,  calculated  to  increase  the  anxiety  unavoidably  attending 


'fO         -  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

our  unhappy  separation,  should  have  reached  you ;  and  whether 
there  were  any  truth  in  it  or  not,  I  am  vexed  beyond  measure  at 
the  want  of  common-sense  as  well  as  of  common  feeling  mani- 
fested by  the  person  who  so  injudiciously  and  unfeelingly  com- 
municated that  report  to  you.  It  is  a  matter  which  need  not 
give  you  a  moment's  uneasiness.  The  report  arose  out  of  some 
dissatisfaction  manifested  by  a  certain  gentleman  at  the  publica- 
tion of  a  certain  debate,  in  which  I  took  a  prominent  part ;  but 
nothing  has  occurred,  and  nothing  will  occur,  which  need  excite 
any  fears  for  the  safety  either  of  my  person  or  of  my  reputation  ; 
both  of  which,  I  am  sure,  are  precious  in  the  estimation  of  my 
affectionate  partner." 

This  extract  will  be  rendered  intelligible  to  the  reader  by 
stating,  that  the  report  which  had  reached  Mrs,  Milnor,  was  to 
the  effect  that  her  husband  had  been  on  the  eve  of  a  duel  with 
the  Speaker  of  the  House,  Henry  Clay.  The  circumstances 
which  had  led  to  a  challenge  from  this  gentleman  were  briefly 
these. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  the  Hon.  William  Reed,  of  Massachu- 
setts, "  presented  a  petition,  signed  by  upwards  of  470  merchants 
of  Boston,  setting  forth  that  they  had  an  immense  amount  of 
property  in  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain,  the  safety  of  which 
was  jeoparded  by  the  state  of  the  relations  between  the  two 
countries ;  and  praying  permission  to  draw  their  said  property 
from  Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies,  under  such  provisions 
as  shall  be  reasonable  and  just." 

The  reading  of  this  petition  was  ordered,  but  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far,  when  it  was  earnestly  objected  to  by  one  of  the  ma- 
jority, on  the  ground  that  the  petition  was  an  insult  to  the  House, 
inasmuch  as  it  declared  that  the  famous  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees 
were  still  in  operation ;  whereas  the  executive  had  declared  them 
repealed.  The  Speaker,  however,  decided  that  the  reading  must 
proceed.  After  it  was  ended,  Mr.  Read  moved  that  the  petition 
be  referred  to  a  select  committee,  while  Mr.  Rhea  moved  that 
it  be  postponed  till  after  the  4th  of  the  ensuing  July.  Upon 
these  motions  arose  the  debate  in  which  Mr.  Milnor  took  such  "a 
prominent  part."  Some  days  after  the  debate  had  been  termi- 
nated by  a  reference  of  the  petition  to  the  committee  of  the  whole. 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  7t 

a  sketch  of  the  day's  proceedings,  containing  a  report  of  Mr. 
Mibior's  speech,  was  sent  to  the  Philadelphia  "  Political  and 
Commercial  Register,"  as  its  editor  stated,  "Z>y  a  friend  in 
Washington^  It  was  at  this  report  that  Mr.  Clay  took  offence, 
and  for  it  that  he  called  Mr.  Milnor  to  account.  Or,  more  cor- 
rectly, the  alleged  ground  of  his  challenge  was,  Mr.  Milnor's 
refusal  to  answer  his  question  touching  the  authorship  of  the 
report. 

;,  It  will  not  be  necessary  to  give  Mr.  Milnor's  speech  at  length. 
It  was  a  fearless  and  manly  effort ;  and  during  its  delivery,  he 
was  repeatedly  interrupted  for  saying  things  unpalatable  to  the 
ruling  majority.  His  soul  seemed  fired  at  the  evident  disposition 
of  that  majority  to  embarrass  the  freedom  of  debate  ;  particularly 
at  the  passionate  warmth  of  manner  with  which  the  Speaker 
twice  called  him  to  order  for  saying,  and  repeating  the  assertion, 
that  Mr.  Rhea's  motion  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  the  peti- 
tion to  so  late  a  day  as  after  the  4th  of  July  was,  "  in  effect,  to 
trifle  with  the  sufferings  of  the  petitioners."  After  the  Speaker's 
second  interruption,  the  report  represents  Mr.  Milnor  as  thus 
concluding  his  speech. 

"I  have  scrupulously  avoided  arraigning  the  motives  of  the 
proposer  of  this  resolution,  or  of  any  other  member.  I  have 
spoken  of  the  effect  of  the  course  proposed.  I  know,  however. 
Sir,  your  powers,  and  those  of  the  majority,  too  well  not  to  feel 
the  necessity  of  acquiescing  in  this  interposition  of  your  author- 
ity ;  and  therefore,  although  perfectly  satisfied  that  I  have  made 
no  observation  inconsistent  with  a  just  freedom  of  debate,  the 
rules  of  decorum,  or  parliamentary  usage,  I  bow  in  submission 
to  the  mandate  of  the  chair.  I  hope,  however,  I  may  be  permit- 
ted to  repeat,  as  an  impressive  reason  for  looking  into  the  subject 
of  this  petition  now,  and  an  argument  against  its  postponement, 
that  the  recent  burnings  of  our  vessels  upon  the  ocean  furnish 
an  evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  French  decrees,  which,  having 
happened  since  the  President's  assertion  of  their  repeal,  could  not 
have  entered  into  his  consideration  of  the  question ;  and,  of  course, 
it  can  involve  no  possible  disrespect  towards  him  to  examine  it 
with  this  additional  evidence.  But  I  was  truly  astonished  at  the 
want  of  recollection  manifested  by  the  honorable  chairman  of  the 


J'2  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Committee  of  commerce  and  manufactures.  He  asserts,  that 
we  had  no  evidence  of  these  atrocities,  except  protests  made  be- 
fore notaries-public,  by  captains  and  mates  of  vessels ;  and  that 
every  body  knew  how  easily  such  protests  were  made.  Now, 
though  the  honorable  gentleman  might  find  so  little  difficulty  in 
isupposing  our  citizens  capable  of  fabricating  these  narratives  and 
supporting  them  by  perjury,  yet  I  should  have  imagined,  if  he 
had  recollected  the  documents  produced  not  long  since  in  this 
house,  he  could  have  given  credit  to  the  original  authenticated 
certificate  signed  by  the  commandant  of  the  squadron  of  French 
ships,  by  which  ours  wore  burnt,  declaring  that  these  outrages 
were  committed  by  order  of  the  Minister  of  Marine  of  France. 
I  have  no  hesitation  in  believing  the  fact."  After  a  few  further 
observations,  Mr.  Milnor  concluded  by  expressing  his  "  hope,  that 
the  house  would  consent  to  the  reference  of  the  petition,  as  pro- 
posed by  the  gentleman  from  Massachusetts." 

When  the  Philadelphia  report  of  his  speech  reached  Wash- 
ington, Mr.  Milnor  was  on  a  visit  to  his  family ;  and  just  before 
his  return  to  Washington,  the  house  was  for  two  days  prevented 
from  sitting  by  Mr.  Clay's  accident  in  falling  from  his  horse.  At 
the  moment  of  his  return,  however,  Mr.  Clay  had  sufficiently 
recovered  to  be  able  to  resume  the  chair.  The  two  gentlemen, 
therefore,  reappeared  in  the  house  on  the  same  day,  May  21.  On 
that  very  day,  the  Speaker  opened  the  following  correspondence, 
which,  with  Mr.  Milnor's  appended  "  memoranda,"  will  be  suffi- 
cient-for  a  further  elucidation  of  the  difficulty  between  them. 
The  point  in  the  Philadelphia  report  of  the  speech,  and  its  con- 
nected proceedings,  at  which  Mr.  Clay  took  umbrage,  seems  to 
•have  been  the  charge,  contained  in  that  report,  of  intemperate 
warmth  in  the  manner  in  which,  as  Speaker  of  the  House,  he 
repeatedly  interrupted  Mr.  Milnor's  remarks. 

(No.  1.) 

"HousK  OF  Representatives,  21st  May,  1812. 
"  To  THE  Honorable  Mr.  Milnor, 

...  "  Sir — Your  return  to  the  city  of  Washington  affords  me  an 
opportunity  of  inquiring  of  you,  if  the  sketch  of  the  debate  on 
Mr.  Reed's  motion,  upon  presenting  the  petition  of  the  Boston 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  73 

merchants,  which  appears  in  the  Political  and  Commercial  Reg- 
ister of  the  6th  instant,  was  furnished  by  you  ?  The  place  and 
manner  of  the  appearance,  for  the  first  time,  of  this  sketch,  will 
apologize  for  the  trouble  I  give  you  on  this  occasion. 

"Yours,  H.  CLAY." 

1  '  Answer.  ■■ 

(No,  2.) 

"  Cotle's,  21st  May,  1812. 
**To  THE  Honorable  Mr.  Clay, 

"  "  Sir — Your  note  of  this  day  was  delivered  to  me  in  my  place 
by  the  Sergeant-at-arms,  during  the  sitting  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. However  willing,  under  other  circumstances,  I  might 
have  been  to  give  any  information  in  my  power  on  the  subject 
to  which  you  refer,  yet,  as  an  important  principle,  as  it  respects 
both  my  representative  and  personal  independence,  might  be 
affected  by  an  acknowledgment,  on  my  part,  of  the  right  to  make, 
and  the  obligation  to  answer,  an  inquiry  of  such  a  nature,  I  trust 
that  my  now  declining  it  will  not  be  attributed  to  any  intention 

of  personal  disrespect.  Yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
(No.  3.) 

"Mrs.  Donson's,  21st  May,  1812. 
•'The  Honorable  Mr.  MiLNOR, 

"Sir — Finding  from  your  answer  to  my  note  of  this  morn- 
ing, that  you  have  misconstrued  the  circumstances  attending  the 
place  where  it  was  delivered  to  you,  and  the  mode  of  conveyance 
I  employed,  I  think  it  due  no  less  to  myself  than  to  you  to 
declare,  that  there  existed  no  intention  to  violate  your  independ- 
ence in  any  respect.  As  you  have  attached  some  degree  of 
importance  to  these  circumstances,  altogether  accidental,  I  have 
to  request  that,  if  they  constitute  the  only  bar  to  the  information 
solicited,  you  will  consider  this  as  a  renewal  of  my  inquiry. 

"  Yours, 

"  H.  CLAY."      ' 
Answer. 

(No.  4.) 

"  Coyie's,  22d  May,  1812. 
^'  The  Honorable  Mr.  Clay, 

,,  "  Sir— I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
second  note  last  evening  by  the  Honorable  Mr.  Bibb,  of  the 
^jpiftte. 


74  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  In  my  answer  to  the  one  previously  received,  the  expres- 
sions, according  to  my  apprehension,  did  not  impute  to  you  an 
intention  of  violating  my  personal  independence,  nor  represent 
the  place  where  your  note  was  delivered,  and  the  mode  of  con- 
veyance, as  constituting  the  only  bar  to  my  furnishing  you  with 
the  information  asked  for ;  at  the  same  time  I  appreciate,  as  I 
ought,  the  frankness  with  which  you  have  disavowed  the  inten- 
tion alluded  to.  I  am  obliged,  however,  to  repeat,  that  confirmed 
impressions  of  duty,  as  they  respect  the  preservation  of  the  priv- 
ileges both  of  my  public  and  private  character,  do  not  admit  of 
my  conceding  the  principle,  under  circumstances  like  the  present, 
of  your  right  to  make,  or  of  my  obligation  to  answer,  the  inquiry 
which  I  understand  to  be  renewed  by  your  last  note. 

"Yours,  M 

"JAMES  MILNOR."     , 

(No.  5.) 

"Mrs.  Donson's,  22d  May,  1812. 

"  The  Honorable  James  Milnor, 

, "  Sir — I  am  gratified  to  learn  by  your  note  of  to-day,  deliv- 
ered to  me  by  Mr.  Groldsborough,  that  you  have  placed  a  proper 
construction  upon  the  circumstances  attending  the  delivery  of  my 
note  to  you  yesterday  morning.  I  have,  at  the  same  time,  to 
regret  that  the  sense  entertained  by  you  of  your  duty  will  not 
allow  you  to  communicate  the  information  sought  for  by  me. 
Your  determination  leaves  to  my  choice  a  single  mode  of  repara- 
tion for  an  injury  of  which  I  conceive  I  have  cause  to  complain ; 
and  my  friend  Mr.  Bibb  is  authorized  by  me  to  make  the  requi- 
site arrangements.  "  Yours, 

"H.  CLAY." 

Answer .  ,r         t 

(No.  6.)  -'  "  "  '  ■"■  ■■'"■■ 

"  Capt.  Coyle's,  23d  May,  1812.      ' ' 
"Honorable  Mr.  Clay,  , 

"  Sir — Being  utterly  unconscious  of  having  ever  offered  or 
intended  you  any  injury,  and  having  received  from  you  no  infor- 
mation of  any  part  of  my  conduct  against  which  you  consider 
yourself  as  possessing  cause  of  complaint,  the  same  leading  prin- 
ciple in  reference  to  public  and  private  duty  that  has  hitherto 
regulated  my  course,  obliges  me  to  deem  it  improper  to  comply 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  75 

with  the  intimation  of  your  note  of  this  day.  Fox  such  a  com- 
pliance, the  most  deliberate  reflection  that  I  have  been  able  to 
give  the  subject,  suggests  no  justification,  on  my  part,  in  any 
thing  that  has  occurred  between  us,  either  before  or  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  correspondence. 

"  Yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Upon  this  correspondence  Mr.  Milnor  made  the  following 
"  memoranda."  , 

"  On  Thursday  morning,  May  21,  1812,  after  being  a  short 
time  in  my  place  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  after  the  com- 
mencement of  public  business,  and,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect, 
about  half  past  11  o'clock,  the  Speaker,  Mr.  Clay,  being  then  in 
the  chair,  sent  me  his  note.  No.  1,  by  the  Sergeant-at-arms,  who 
delivered  it  to  me  in  my  seat.  About  5,  P.  M.,  of  the  same  day, 
I  sent  him  my  answer.  No.  2,  by  a  servant. 

"  In  the  evening,  about  9,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Bibb  waited  on  me, 
and  handed  me  Mr.  Clay's  second  note.  No.  3,  unsealed,  in  my 
chamber.  I  inquired  of  Mr.  Bibb,  whether  a  written  answer 
was  expected,  or  whether  he  wished  to  confer  verbally  with  me 
on  the  subject.  He  said  that  he  presumed  Mr.  Clay  desired  a 
written  answer,  but  did  not  wish  to  hurry  me.  I  told  him  I 
would  send  Mr.  Clay  a  written  answer  in  the  morning ;  and  in 
the  meantime,  had  no  hesitation  in  stating  to  him,  that  although 
I  certainly  thought  it  an  unusual  thing  to  receive  a  note  of  such 
a  nature,  in  such  a  time,  place,  and  manner,  yet  the  difficulty  I 
felt  in  answering  the  inquiry,  arose  from  other  and  more  impor- 
tant considerations;  that  I  deemed  Mr.  Clay  not  to  possess  a 
right  to  call  on  me  to  answer  such  an  inquiry,  because,  if  admit- 
ted, it  would  lead  to  very  injurious  consequences ;  that  it  would 
recognize  a  right  in  any  individual,  affected  by  an  anonymous 
publication,  or  thinking  himself  to  be  so,  to  call  upon  as  many 
individuals  as  he  chose  to  select,  and  demand  of  each  of  them 
whether  he  was  not  the  author  of  the  offensive  publication. 
Suppose  an  anonymous  letter  from  Washington  to  be  published 
in  a  l^hiladelphia  paper ;  suppose  it  even  to  purport  to  be  from  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives ;  would  I  be  bound  to 
answer  a  formal  demand  in  writing  whether  I  was  the  author,? 


76  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

I  apprehend  not.  I  also  stated,  that  the  difficulty  was  increased 
in  this  instance,  by  the  formality  given  to  Mr.  Clay's  communica- 
tion, and  by  the  concealment  of  its  object  and  of  the  use  intend- 
ed to  be  made  of  my  answer.  Mr.  Bibb  said  he  was  wholly  un- 
acquainted with  the  course  intended  to  be  pursued  by  Mr.  Clay ; 
that  he  had  never  seen  the  publication  referred  to,  nor  did  he 
know  wherein  it  was  offensive  ;  that  Mr.  Clay  had  showed  him  a 
copy  of  his  note  to  me,  and  my  answer,  and  requested  him  to  be 
the  bearer  of  the  reply ;  which  constituted  the  whole  of  his  in- 
formation on  the  subject.  I  again  referred  to  my  objection,  as 
founded  upon  a  denial  of  Mr.  Clay's  right  to  make  such  a  de- 
mand ;  but  suggested,  that  in  all  probability,  if  the  same  request 
had  occurred  in  the  course  of  a  familiar,  verbal  communication,  I 
should  have  felt  no  disposition  to  withhold  any  information  in  my 
power,  though  not  on  the  score  of  a  right  in  Mr.  Clay  to  require 
it  of  me.  In  the  morning,  I  added,  I  would  answer  Mr.  Clay's 
note.  After  some  conversation  on  our  foreign  relations,  Mr.  Bibb 
left  me. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  some  difficulty  in  finding  my 
friend  Mr.  Goldsborough,  prevented  my  getting  my  answer,  No. 
4,  into  Mr.  Clay's  hands,  as  I  intended,  before  the  meeting  of  the 
House.  He  called  on  him  immediately  after  the  adjournment 
which  took  place,  but  did  not  meet  with  him  at  home.  Mr. 
Goldsborough,  however,  delivered  it  personally  to  Mr.  Clay  before 
dinner. 

"  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Mr.  Bibb,  I  understood, 
called  at  my  lodgings,  but  I  was  out. 

"  Between  10  and  11  A.  M.,  Saturday,  23d  May,  Mr.  Bibb 
brought  me  Mr.  Clay's  third  note,  No.  5.  I  prepared  my  answer, 
and  went  in  search  of  Mr.  Goldsborough,  but  after  some  time  dis- 
covered that  he  had  gone  to  Georgetown.  I  left  a  note  at  his  lodg- 
ings, requesting  him  to  call  on  me  immediately  on  his  return. 
Mr.  Goldsborough  did  so  about  —  o'clock,  when  I  gave  him  my 
note  to  Mr.  Clay,  No.  6,  which  he  delivered  to  Mr.  Bibb  about  — 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  (Saturday,)  and  had  some 
Conversation,  which  he  can  detail." 

What  that  conversation  was,  is  to  us  unknown.  Probably 
4t  had  the  design  and  effect  of  disposing  of  the  affair,  without  its 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  77 

being  bruited  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public's  ever  "  itching 
ear."  Bishop  Kemper,  in  a  letter  containing  some  notices  of  Mr. 
Milnor's  life,  says,  that  Mr.  Clay  "  sent  him  a  challenge  to  fight 
a  duel,  but  withdrew  it  when  convinced  that  he  had  misunder- 
stood his  opponent."  And  Mr.  T.  Bradford,  in  his  "Reminis- 
cences," says,  "  The  matter  was  settled  by  the  intervention  of 
friends."  Perhaps  both  these  remarks  refer  to  the  effect  of  the 
conversation  between  Mr.  Bibb  and  Mr.  Goldsborough,  of  which 
Mr.  Milnor  speaks.  At  that  conversation,  explanations  may  have 
been  made  which  induced  Mr.  Clay  to  "withdraw"  his  challenge, 
and  thus  "  the  matter  may  have  been  settled  by  the  intervention 
of  friends."  Virtually,  however,  the  matter  was  settled  when 
Mr.  Milnor  declined  the  challenge  of  his  opponent.  After  that 
decision,  if  Mr.  Milnor  persisted  in  withholding  information,  Mr. 
Clay  had  no  alternative  but  either  to  drop  the  matter,  or  take 
personal  satisfaction,  if  not  by  brute  force,  by  the  more  reputable, 
but  scarcely  less  senseless  mode  of  posting  his  opponent  as  a 
coward.  Towards  dropping  the  controversy  he  may  have  felt  by 
no  means  disinclined,  but  to  either  of  the  modes  named  for  ob- 
taining further  reparation,  he  was  not  likely  to  resort.  He  was 
doubtless  too  high-minded  for  a  mere  brute  assault  on  such  a 
gentleman  as  Mr.  Milnor,  and  he  must  have  known  well,  that  to 
advertise  him  as  a  poltroon,  would  excite  laughter  at  himself 
rather  than  scorn  of  his  opponent.  Both  the  personal  and  the 
moral  courage  of  the  latter  was  undoubted.  In  truth,  he  gave 
the  highest  proof  of  both  by  declining  Mr.  Clay's  call  to  the  field. 
Those  were  times,  emphatically,  when  the  mere  sending  of  a 
challenge  was  deemed  reason  enough  for  its  acceptance.  Gren- 
tlemen  of  honor,  so  called,  would  ordinarily  have  been  afraid  to 
refuse  the  call,  though  given  in  the  spirit  of  angry,  yet  reasonless 
caprice.  Argument  like  the  following  would  have  been  likely  to 
rise  in  their  heart :  "  My  opponent  calls ;  that  is  enough  for  me ; 
I  must  meet  him."  So  reasoned  not  James  Milnor,  though  yet 
in  his  unconverted  state.  He  saw  a  principle,  which  his  decision 
was  either  to  support  or  to  sacrifice,  for  others  as  well  as  for  him- 
self ;  and  even  if  we  may  suppose  that,  as  a  man  of  the  world, 
he  had  no  conscientious  scruples  against  duelling,  still,  as  a  man 
of  PRINCIPLE,  he  would  not  permit  the  most  distinguished  oppo- 


78  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILXOR. 

nent  to  demand  and  enforce  from  him  what  was  not  his  right. 
He  had  the  highest  kind  of  courage — ^that  which  stands  to  the 
RIGHT,  and  sets  arbitrary  and  all  but  omnipotent  custom  at 
defiance. 

Years  after  the  occurrences  which  we  have  now  been  review- 
ing, when  Mr.  Milnor  had  been  long  in  the  Church,  and  Mr.  Clay 
had  risen  higher  than  ever  in  the  political  world,  these  two  gen- 
tlemen met  again  on  terms  of  mutual  respect  and  amity ;  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  meeting  show  that  Mr.  Clay  thought 
none  the  less  favorably  of  Mr.  Milnor  for  the  course  which  he  had 
formerly  taken.  The  account  of  the  meeting  is  furnished  by  the 
gentleman  who  was  instrumental  in  its  occurrence. 

While  Mr.  Clay  was  Secretary  of  State,  Dr.  Milnor  had  occa- 
sion, in  common  with  several  other  clergy  of  our  church,  to  visit 
Washington.  His  friend,  the  Rev.  Gr.  W.  Ridgely,  formerly  a 
student  of  the  law  in  the  office '  of  Mr.  Clay,  was  one  of  their 
number.  During  a  call  which  Mr.  Ridgely  made  upon  his  old 
patron,  Mr.  Clay  inquired  who  of  his  clerical  brethren  were  with 
him  at  the  capital.  In  reply,  the  names  of  several  were  men- 
tioned, particularly  that  of  Dr.  Milnor  of  New  York.  Mr,  Clay 
immediately  expressed  a  high  regard  for  Dr.  Milnor,  and  asked 
Mr.  Ridgely  whether  he  thought  the  Doctor  would  come  and  dine 
with  him ;  assigning  as  a  reason  for  his  inquiry,  the  unpleasant 
circumstances  under  which,  several  years  before,  they  had  parted. 
Mr.  Ridgely  replied,  he  had  no  doubt  of  Dr.  Milnor's  willingness 
to  meet  Mr.  Clay  again  on  friendly  terms,  and  at  once  offered  to 
open  the  way  for  the  acceptance  of  an  invitation.  An  invitation 
was  accordingly  sent,  and  accepted.  Others  of  the  clergy  were 
guests  at  the  dinner  which  followed,  and  were,  of  course,  highly 
pleased  with  their  entertainment.  But  Mr.  Ridgely,  being  aware 
of  the  circumstances  under  which  the  two  principal  gentlemen 
met,  felt  a  deep  interest  in  silently  observing  their  manner  to- 
wards each  other.  It  was  that  of  the  utmost  frankness  and  high 
bearing.  Not  a  word  was  said,  not  the  shadow  of  a  look  passed 
over  the  countenance  of  either,  to  indicate  that  the  past  was 
remembered.  The  maimer  of  Mr.  Clay  showed  that  the  highest 
respect  for  Dr.  Milnor  had  buried  that  past  away  from  his  feel- 
ings ;  while  that  of  Dr.  Milnor  made  it  perfectly  evident  that  he 


V-       OV  TEE 
HIS  POLITICAL  CAREER.        ife  K  I  "^  ^79^  ^  V*    * 

knew  how  to  meet  the  advances  of  Mr.  Clay.  He  wa^^ijSfl^IEfi 
to  say,  by  either  his  actions  or  his  looks,  "  Sir,  as  a  Chriskan  I 
willingly  forgive  what,  as  a  gentleman,  I  do  but  civilly  forget." 
On  the  part  of  both  there  was  a  warm  open-heartedness  which 
pledged  mutual  respect  for  the  present,  and  which  put  the  past, 
in  effect,  where  each  wished  it  might  have  been  in  fact — out  of 
existence.  The  conduct  of  both  was  such  as  to  raise  them  higher 
than  ever  in  the  estimation  of  their  silently  observant  friend. 
I  In  still  later  years,  Dr.  Milnor  voted  for  his  former  opponent 
as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  He  had  a  high  admiration  for 
that  gentleman's  abilities  and  patriotism,  and  he  strongly  mani- 
fested it  during  the  great  statesman's  public  visit  to  New  York, 
when  a  splendid  civic  honor  was  awarded  him.  Dr.  Wm.  H. 
Milnor  remarks  in  his  "Recollections,"  "  I  shall  never  forget  my 
father's  enthusiasm  as  the  procession  passed  our  door,  during  Mr. 
Clay's  memorable  visit  to  our  city.  He  forgot,  for  the  moment, 
his  ecclesiastical  position,  and  as  his  thoughts  glided  back  to  the 
past,  his  youthful  political  ardor  returned,  and  he  shouted  with 
the  loudest  his  welcome  to  the  city's  guest." 

We  pass  now  to  a  brief  review  of  the  closing  scenes  of  Mr. 
Milnor 's  political  life.  Early  in  November,  1812,  he  left  Phila- 
delphia for  his  third  winter  in  Congress,  and  after  "  a  most 
tedious  and  irksome  passage,"  reached  Washington  on  the  5th  of 
the  month.  He  was  soon  settled  in  his  old  quarters  at  Coyle's, 
and  as  soon  engaged  in  the  business  of  the  session.  But  a  great 
change,  dimly  shadowed  as  yet  to  his  own  perceptions,  was  al- 
ready beginning  to  come  over  his  mind ;  and  it  is  here  men- 
tioned, not  because  this  is  the  time  to  trace  its  progress,  but 
because  a  knowledge  of  the  fact  will  help  us  to  understand  why 
he  took  so  much  less  part  in  politics  than  during  the  previous 
session,  and  why  his  letters  say  so  little  of  the  part  which  he  did 
take.  The  following  extracts  contain  his  only  notices  of  what 
was  passing  in  the  great  world  of  war  and  politics. 

"  Nov.  10,  1812. — The  weather  has  been  so  bad,  and  the 
walking  so  dreadful,  that  I  have  been  barely  able  to  get  from  my 
lodgings  to  the  capitol  since  my  arrival.  To-day,  however,  I  took 
a  carriage,  and  paid  the  usual  visit  of  compliment  to  the  Presi- 
dent, with  whom  I  had  about  half  an  hour's  conversation.     He 


80  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

was  communicative  and  pleasant,  but  Mrs.  Madison  did  not  make 
her  appearance.  Business  makes  very  quiet  progress.  No  mani- 
festations of  heat  or  violence  have  yet  appeared,  and  I  sincerely 
hope  they  may  not." 

"  Nov.  20,  1812. — I  have  had  much  more  leisure  since  my 
arrival  than  I  had  last  session.  Going  less  abroad,  and  being 
upon  but  one  important  committee,  together  w^ith  an  unusual 
exemption  from  letters  of  either  politics  or  business,  with  only 
two  fellow-boarders,  of  retired  and  quiet  habits,  and,  added  to 
all  this,  with  but  short  daily  sittings  of  the  house,  have  altogether 
contributed  to  give  me  retirement  without  weariness,  and  the 
luxuries  of  reading  and  reflection  without  the  bustle  and  anxiety 
of  public  or  professional  concerns." 

"Nov.  21,  1812. — Yesterday,  very  unexpectedly  to  myself,  I 
felt  constrained  to  take  the  floor  upon  two  interesting  questions, 
arising  out  of  the  needless  and  calamitous  war  in  which  our 
rulers  have  unfortunately  plunged  us.  The  subject  was,  an  act 
for  increasing  the  facility  of  raising  troops  by  enlistment.  One 
of  its  objectionable  provisions  was,  an  authority  to  enlist  boys 
from  eighteen  to  twenty-one  years  of  age,  without  regard  to  the 
claims,  interests,  or  feelings  of  parents,  guardians,  or  masters; 
thus  authorizing  a  bribe  to  profligate  young  men  to  violate  every 
duty  of  obedience  towards  those  who  have  charge  of  them,  and 
ruining  their  prospects  in  life  by  taking  them  from  the  acquisition 
of  a  useful  calling  into  all  the  profligacy  and  vice  of  a  camp. 
The  other  provision  which  excited  my  feelings,  was  an  exemption 
to  debtors  from  being  arrested  by  their  creditors,  after  enlisting 
as  soldiers,  whatever  be  the  amount  of  their  debts,  and  whether 
contracted  before  or  after  enlistment.  Two  more  scandalous 
violations  of  true  policy,  the  civil  rights  of  the  citizen,  and  the 
principles  of  religion  and  morality,  cannot  be  conceived.  May  a 
merciful  Providence  shield  our  country  against  participating  in 
the  ruin  which  must  await  such  shameful  means  for  bolstering: 
up  a  wicked  and  unnecessary  war.  Pray  excuse  this  diversion 
to  the  rugged  and  unpleasant  path  of  politics.  I  shall  soon  be 
permitted  to  leave  their  management  to  others.  But,  whilst  my 
term  of  public  service  continues,  they  claim  and  must  unavoid- 
ably receive  a  portion  of  my  attention." 


HIS   POLITICAL  CAREER.  81 

■'  "Nov.  24,  1812.— You  will  not  think  me  very  deeply  en- 
gaged in  the  affairs  of  the  nation,  when  I  tell  you,  that  instead 
of  preparing  speeches,  and  studying  the  intricacies  of  political 
controversy,  my  hours,  when  not  spent  at  the  capitol,  or  in  social 
converse,  or  in  writing  to  you,  are  chiefly  passed  near  my  cham- 
ber-fire in  the  perusal  of  books,  such  as  I  meet  with  here,  and 
find  adapted  to  the  feelings  of  my  mind." 

"Dec.  3,  1812." — Giving  an  account  of  a  dinner-party  at  the 
President's,  from  which  he  had  "just  returned,"  and  at  which  the 
guests  were  "quite  select,"  he  says,  "I  bad  the  honor  of  a  seat 
near  the  queen,  and  was  treated  with  great  civility  and  attention 
both  by  her  and  her  royal  consort,  notwithstanding  my  recent 
well-known  opposition  to  his  reelection.  ^ 

"  The  discussion  of  the  question  of  releasing  the  merchants 
from  the  penalties  incurred  by  them  in  bringing  in  British  goods, 
was  commenced  in  our  house  this  day,  and  is  likely  to  continue 
for  some  time.  I  am  prepared  to  speak  in  their  favor,  if  it  should 
be  deemed  expedient. 

"  I  shall  not  make  my  letter  more  of  an  olla  podrida  by  add- 
ing any  thing  of  a  serious  cast  to  the  foregoing  details  of  fashion 
and  of  politics.  My  allotted  term  of  ceremony  and  of  public 
business  must  be  filled;  and  then  for  the  moments  of  domestic 
comfort,  the  endearments  of  wife  and  children,  and  a  regular  but 
not  morose  attention  to  duties  of  the  most  pleasing  and  impor- 
tant nature,  because  they  are  fitted  to  gild  with  cheerfulness 
the  passage  through  life,  and  to  brighten  the  prospects  of  a  future 
world." 

"Dec.  9,  1812." — ^Having  been  compelled,  as  a  member  of 
the  naval  committee,  to  attend  a  ball  given  to  Captain  Hull  and 
others,  as  officers  of  the  navy,  he  thus  describes  a  scene  which 
took  place  in  the  course  of  the  evening. 

"The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  his  wife,  and  two  daughters 
were  of  the  company.  About  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  it  was 
announced  that  the  son  of  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Hamilton,  had  ar- 
rived with,  official  despatches  Sot  his  father,  announcing  the  vic- 
tory gained  by  Commodore  Decatur,  of  the  frigate  United  States, 
over  the  British  frigate  Macedonian;  and  that  he  brought  with 
him  the  colors  of  the  captured  vessel.     A  few  moments  after- 


82  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

wards,  the  ingenuous  youth  was  ushered  into  the  ballroom,  and 
fell  upon  the  necks  of  his  overjoyed  mother  and  sisters.  They 
had  not  seen  him  for  more  than  a  twelvemonth,  nor  since  he 
had  miraculously  escaped  from  the  dreadful  conflagration  of  the 
theatre  at  Richmond,  where  he  happened  to  be  at  the  time  of 
that  calamitous  event,  on  his  way  to  Norfolk  to  take  his  station 
on  board  the  United  States.  He  had  now  returned,  flushed  with 
victory,  and  found  the  city  universally  illuminated  on  account 
of  the  gallant  action  in  which  he  had  shared  ;  his  family  engaged 
in  doing  honor  to  the  brave  men  who  had  gone  before  him  in  the 
career  of  glory ;  and  himself — happy  man — bearer  of  the  ensigns 
of  another  conquered  foe.  Soon  after  the  scene  I  have  described, 
the  colors  of  the  Macedonian  were  introduced,  borne  by.  Cap- 
tains Hull,  Stewart,  and  Morris,  with  other  naval  officers,  amid 
the  loud  acclamations  of  the  company.  This  was  a  part  of  the 
entertainment  so  unexpected  and  so  much  in  consonance  with 
the  feelings  of  pa,triotism,  that  I  confess  it  very  much  diminished 
the  sentiment  of  disgust  at  all  around  me,  in  which  I  had  been 
indulging.  I  glory  in  the  evidences  we  have  had  of  the  prowess 
of  our  little  navy,  and  am  convinced  that  it  is  the  only  true 
method  of  defending  our  national  rights." 

Though  opposed  to  the  war,  he  was  not  blind  to  the  ability 
with  which  it  was  conducted — at  least,  so  far  as  it  made  the 
broad  ocean  its  field. 

"  Dec.  16,  1812." — The  holidays  were  approaching,  and  he 
had  promised  to  spend  them  at  home;  but  he  says,  "  Congress 
are  still  engaged  on  the  question  relating  to  the  release  of  the 
merchants'  bonds ;  and  I  am  not  without  apprehensions  of  a 
severe  conflict  between  contending  duties  at  the  moment  when 
I  shall  wish  to  leave  this  place.  Yet  I  hope  we  may  previously 
get  through  it,  and  no  other  public  object  shall  detain  me." 
Again : 

"  Dec.  18,  1812. — The  interesting  question  with  respect  to  the 
relief  of  our  merchants  from  the  forfeitures  and  penalties  incur- 
red under  the  non-importation  act,  which  affects  individuals  in 
our  city  alone  to  the  amount  of  four  and  a  half  millions  of  dol- 
lars, is  not  yet  decided ;  and  the  division  in  the  House  is  so 
uearly  equal,  that  a  single  vote  may  turn  the  decision  one  way 


HIS  POLITICAL   CAREER.  83 

or  the  other.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  deem  it  a  conscien- 
tious duty  to  submit  to  the  necessity  of  remaining  here  till  the 
question  is  settled,  which  I  hope  will  be  in  the  course  of  the 
ensuing  week." 

The  debates  on  the  merchants'  relief  bill  detained  him,  as 
nearly  a§  can  be  ascertained,  till  about  Christmas.  The  moment 
he  could  with  safety  leave,  he  visited  Philadelphia,  and  was  in 
his  place  again  after  the  close  of  the  holidays.  Hence  he  writes, 
from  the  House, 

"Jan.  13,  1813. — I  have  arrived  here,  in  good  health  >and 
without  accident,  just  in  time,  as  upon  one  or  two  former  occa- 
sions, to  give  a  vote  upon  the  army  bill.  Randolph  is  now 
making  a  very  long  speech  ;  and  we  have  before  us  the  prospect 
of  a  night-session,  as  the  majority  are  determined  to  take  the 
final  question  to-day." 

"Jan.  16,  1813. — While  I  was  absent,  I  find  the  political 
asperity  of  parties  has  risen  to  its  highest  pitch.  Mr.  Q,uincy's 
severe  attack  on  the  administration  brought  upon  him  an  abun- 
dance of  abuse.  I  found  Mrs.  Madison,  to  whose  drawing-room 
entertainments  Mr.  Q,uincy  (improperly,  I  think)  made  some  allu- 
sion, by  no  means  unaffected  by  the  passing  scene.  She  spoke 
freely  and  feelingly  to  me  on  the  subject,  though  without  anger ; 
and  I  confess,  between  ourselves,  I  cannot  but  deem  it  a  departure 
from  the  principles  of  liberality  and  decorum  in  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, to  make  such  reflections  as  fell  from  Mr.  Quincy.  I  hope 
he  will  see  the  propriety  of  omitting  them,  or  of  assuaging  their 
severity,  in  the  publication  of  his  speech  which  he  is  about  to 
make ;  and  which,  barring  this  and  some  other  parts  of  it  un- 
necessarily severe,  our  friends  all  concur  in  saying  was  an  aston- 
ishing display  of  gonitis  and  eloquence." 

Possibly  this  brilliant  but  discourteous  assault  on  the  admin- 
istration is  what  Mr.  Milnor  refers  to,  in  a  letter  some  days  before 
his  visit  to  Philadelphia,  in  which  he  says,  "  I  write  in  the  House 
with  a  speech  from  Mr.  Q,uincy  thundering  in  my  ear." 

His  political  course  was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  His  letters 
to  Mrs.  Milnor  all  breathe  of  the  diviner  themes  which  have  filled 
his  soul,  and  his  allusions  to  the  business  of  Congress  disappear 
from  their  pages.     On  the  27th  of  February,  he  names  the  day  of 


84  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR.  '  .      • 

his  intended  final  departure  for  Philadelphia;  his  last  being  one 
of  the  short  sessions,  which  terminate  the  4th  of  March.  Unex- 
pectedly, however,  a  gentle  visit  from  his  ancestral  friend  the 
gout,  detained  him  for  several  days  after  the  adjournment ;  and 
"  whilst  all  "Washington  was  crowding  to  the  capitol  on  the  4th, 
to  witness  Mr.  Madison's  re-inauguration,  he  had  more  pleasure 
in  sitting  down  in  the  solitude  of  his  chamber  to  relieve  any  anx- 
iety which  his  wife  might  have  suffered"  by  his  previous  day's 
announcement  of  his  expected  detention.  He  was  well  enough 
to  leave  Washington  on  the  6th  of  March,  but  for  safety's  sake 
preferred  taking  his  seat  in  the  coach  on  the  8th.  On  that  day, 
the  coach,  when  it  came  along,  was  too  full  to  receive  him,  and 
he  did  not  finally  leave  till  the  9th.    ' 

Thus  close  all  the  notices  which  remain  of  Mr.  Milnor's  polit- 
ical life  during  his  last  session  in  Congress.  He  faithfully  did 
his  work  for  his  country,  but  said  little  about  it  in  his  letters. 
He  had  other  things  on  his  heart,  and  other  things  for  his  pen, 
even  while  busily  occupied  in  public  duty.  His  letters  to  Mrs. 
Milnor  and  others  were  more  frequent  than  ever ;  but  they  were 
almost  undividedly  filled  with  concerns  mightier  than  those  of 
nations.  They  will  come  into  view  as  we  proceed  to  trace  that 
work  of  the  Spirit  which  transformed  him  from  a  man  of  the  law 
to  a  disciple  of  the  Gospel,  and  from  a  political  servant  of  his 
country  to  an  eminent  minister  of  Christ. 


.     RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.    •  85 

PART   II.  J: 

HISTORY  OF  MR.  MILNQR'S  RELIGIOUS  .CHANGE.    '  \ 


SECTION   I.  ';  - 

In  proceeding  to  trace  the  formation  of  Mr.  Milnor's  Christian 
character,  we  have  the  advantage  of  a  previous  knowledge  of 
what  he  was  as  a  fully,  developed  and  maturely  ripened  man : 
unstained  from  boyhood  with  the  too  frequent  vices  of  life,  yet 
formed  to  the  fashion  and  the  manners,  and  governed  by  the 
spirit  and  the  maxims  of  the  world;  warm  and  generous  in  his 
friendships,  especially  in  his  domestic  attachments  ;  scrupulously 
honest  and  upright  in  his  dealings ;  industrious  and  methodical 
in  his  business ;  active  and  influential  in  the  benevolent  and  lit- 
erary institutions  of  his  age  ;  a  peacemaker,  who  yet,  for  the  sake 
of  peace,  would  never  sacrifice  truth  and  right ;  incorruptibly 
pure  and  high-minded  in  his  social  and  political  principles  ;  pecu- 
liarly popular  with  all  the  associations  into  which  he  entered,  and 
in  all  the  relations  which  he  sustained ;  an  able  and  successful 
lawyer,  of  that  order  who  seem  formed  to  sit  with  grace,  dignity, 
and  reputation,  on  the  bench  of  justice;  and  a  legislator,  ani- 
mated with  the  truest  patriotism,  and  gifted  with  no  little  insight 
and  sagacity  in  the  philosophy  of  politics.  In  short,  had  he.  been 
constitutionally  as  much  in  love  with  legal  and  political  life  as 
he  was  practically  successful  in  both,  he  might  have  risen — such 
was  his  popularity  in  his  native  state^to  her  highest  posts  of 
trust  and  honor.  At  the  time  when  he  was  about  to  disappear 
from  the  scenes  of  civil  life,  he  was  already  talked  of  as  next 
governor  of  Pennsylvania. 

But  amid  all  this,  and  up  to  the  period  at  which  we  have 
now  arrived,  he  was  without  any  just  perceptions,  and  evidently 
without  any  real  experience  of  the  true  nature  of  the  religion  of 
Christ.     He  was,  indeed,  far  from  thoughtlessness  about  religion; 


86  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

yet  his  thoughts  were  any  thing  but  true  to  the  interior  power 
and  spirituality  of  the  Gospel.  Of  this,  the  intelligent  religious 
reader  will  have  already  seen  evidence  ;  and  evidence  more  sat- 
isfying to  such  will  appear,  in  what  we  have  further  to  examine. 

In  school-boy  days,  and  in  legal  studies,  James  Milnor  had  a 
playmate  and  a  friend  in  Aquila  Massey  Bolton.  Mr.  Bolton  was 
evidently,  in  mature  years,  a  man  of  handsome  talents ;  gay, 
volatile,  and  witty  ;  the  soul  of  social  parties  ;  but,  withal,  loose, 
and  in  secret  not  merely  sceptical,  but  utterly  infidel  in  his 
views  of  religion.  Amid  the  vicissitudes  of  life,  however,  it 
pleased  God  to  make  him,  if  we  may  judge  from  his  letters,  a 
monument  of  awakening  grace,  if  not  of  recovering  mercy ;  and 
in  the  faithful  dealings  which  he  at  once  opened  with  the  con- 
science of  his  friend  James,  we  have  our  first  glimpse  into  the 
earlier  religious  notions  of  the  latter.  , 

As  early  as  the  3d  of  March,  1800,  somewhat  more  than  a 
year  after  Mr.  Milnor's  marriage,  Mr.  Bolton  addressed  to  him  a 
letter,  from  which  the  following  are  excerpts.  Explaining  a 
"  somethingy  of  which  he  says  his  mind  had,  "for  a  considerable 
time,  been  full,"  he  proceeds : 

"  Know,  then,  my  dear  friend — for  I  think  you  nearer  to  me 
than  ever — ^that,  like  the  Prodigal  Son,  I  am  seeking  to  be  restored 
to  the  favor  of  my  heavenly  Father,  through  the  mediation  of  his 
Son  Jesas  Christ,  whom  I  have  so  long  turned  from  and  cruci- 
cified  in  my  heart.  This  confession,  I  doubt  not,  will  subject  me 
to  even  your  mockery,  as  I  know  it  will  to  that  of  the  world. 
The  latter  is  a  matter  of  indifference ;  and  even  the  former  I 
think  I  could  bear^  if  it  would  not  be  an  evidence  to  your  own 
condemnation.  You  may  well  say,  '  Is  Saul  also  among  the 
prophets?'  for  I  have  been  a  cruel  persecutor  of  Christianity" — 
[by  the  way,  that  is  not  the  first  time  that  the  Saul  of  the  Old 
Testament  has  been  put  in  the  place  of  Saul  in  the  New'] — "  to  a 
greater  degree,  I  believe,  than  any  but  the  Holy  Spirit  has  had 
knowledge  of.  Few  of  my  friends,  I  think,  have  known  to  what 
monstrous  lengths  I  had  gone  from  the  faith  which  is  in  Jesus. 
Thanks  be  to  the  Lord,  I  was  arrested  on  the  high  road  to  de- 
struction, and  have  been  taught,  as  Saul  himself  was,  that  it  was 
Jesus  whom  I  persecuted." 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  87 

"  If  you  knew  how  much  I  have  your  welfare  at  heart,  and 
notwithstanding  our'  past  friendship,  you  cannot  know,  you 
would  be  disposed  to  believe  one  who,  to  his  sorrow,  avows  that 
he  was  carried  by  a  speculative  philosophy  far,  very  far  beyond 
Deism.  Indeed,- 1  think  I  was  never  more  fixed  in  any  one  opin- 
ion than  in  a  total  disbelief  of  all  divine  revelatioii;  and  for  a 
long  time  I  valued  myself  upon  having  overcome  every  kind  of 
superstition  and  prejudice,  which  I  thought  had  their  origin  from 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  But,  notwithstanding  I  was  as 
firmly  fixed  in  my  opinion  as  Voltaire  himself  ever  was,  I  can 
now  declare,  that  I  have  no  more  doubt  of  the  Scriptures  having 
been  dictated  by  the  Supreme  Being,  than  I  have  of  my  own 
existence.  '■<'''' 

"  Oh  that  I  Could  communicate  to  you  a  full  sense  of  what 
I  have  been  taught  in  the  school  of  Christ.  Your  eyes  would 
then  be  opened  indeed.  You  will  remember,  and  I  have  not 
forgotten,  the  time  when  we  used  to  laugh  at  serious  people 
affecting  to  know  something,  which  we,  in  our  vain  imagina- 
tions, could  not  believe  to  be  of  any  importance.  You  have  now 
an  opportunity  to  renew  the  laugh  at  my  expense.  But,  for 
your  own  sake,  not  mine,  beware  ^  deceive  not  yourself :  be  as- 
sured there  is  a  Grod  to  whom  every  knee  shall  bow,  and  whom 
every  tongue  shall  confess ;  and  no  man  can  come  unto  the 
Father  but  by  that  Son,  whom  I  fear  you  have  long  ago  dis- 
claimed. 

"  Bearing  in  mind  how  ineffectual  were  remonstrances  upon 
my  own  mind  when  in  a  state  of  apostasy,  (the  reason  of  which 
inefficacy  I  can  now  discern,)  I  am  indeed  without  much  hope  of 
being  able  to  arouse  you  to  a  sense  of  your  condition.  Yet, 
when  I  reflect  upon  the  great,  the  important  change  in  my  mind, 
and  upon  the  friendship  which  has  subsisted  between  us,  I  am 
tempted,  and  I  trust  permitted,  at  least  by  that  Holy  Spirit 
under  whose  awful  influence  I  hope  ever  to  continue,  to  sound 
an  alarm,  which  I  fervently  pray  may  not  be  disregarded. 

"This  conversion,"  (which  he  had  experienced,)  "I  can  only 
call  strange,  '  passing  strange.'  Oh,  could  you  know  the  gratitude 
which  I  feel  towards  that  Redeemer  whom  I  have  so  long  and 
so  flagrantly  offended,  for  having  opened  my  eyes  to  see  my  con- 


88  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

dition  when  upon  the  very  precipice  of  hell,  you  would  feel  very 
little  concerned  about  the  trash  of  this  world.  And  this  change, 
believe  mes,  you  must  experience,  or  you  will  be  lost  to  all  eter- 
nity. Flatter  not  yourself  -that  the  Lord  conforms  himself  to 
man's  wisdom,  or  that  you  can  save  yourself  from  perdition  in 
any  other  way  than  by  reliance  upon  Christ  Jesus.  Believe  me, 
I  am  in  my  perfect  senses,  when  I  tell  you,  that  I  know  these 
truths  as  plainly  as  I  know  that  two  and  two  make  four. 

"I  thought  I  could  do  no  less  than  write  you  as  I  have  done, 
although  it  may  be  the  means  of  breaking  our  friendship;  for 
you  must  not  expect  to  find  me,  in  future,  the  same  as  you  have 
found  me  in  the  past ;  and  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  not  relish 
any  thing  from  one  who  wishes  not  to  violate  the  covenant  he 
has  made  with  his  God.  Our  future  intercourse  depends  upon 
yourself.  If  you  think  that  I  am  not  too  gloomy  a  correspond- 
ent, I  will  gladly  retain  my  place  in  your  affection.  As  to  mine 
for  you,  be  assured  it  is  increased  most  wonderfully ;  for  once  I 
supposed  our  friendship  would  end  in  death;  now  I  cannot  but 
hope  it  will  be  eternal^ 

And  if,  friend  Aquila,  thy  own  faith  was  steadfast  to  the 
end,  thy  hope  is  already  certainty. 

On  the  fifth  of  April,  he  wrote  again  to  Mr.  Milnor  as  follows. 

"  Dear  Tames — 1  feel  fearful  that  I  may  have  said  something 
in  my  last  at  which  you  have  taken  umbrage ;  for  several  weeks 
are  now  elapsed,  and  I  have  not  received  a  line  from  you.  In- 
deed, my  dear  friend,  notwithstanding  the  resolution  I  have 
most  seriously  made,  to  have  less  converse  with  the  world,  yet 
I  cannot  consent  to  give  up  your  friendship.  Perhaps,  how- 
ever, this  is  not  as  I  please ;  and  you  being  willing  to  give  up 
mine,  the  continuance  of  a  mutual  fellowship  is  not  to  be  ex- 
pected. I  am  not  ignorant'  how  it  is  with  the  general  run  of 
mankind ;  and  how,  in  some  instances,  it  has  been  with  myself 
When  I  have  seen  some  one  of  my  acquaintances  drawn,  as  if 
by  the  hand  of  God,  from  the  circles  of  mirth,  to  deliver  him 
from  temptation,  I  have  felt  a  kind  of  contemptuous  pity,  that 
he  should  wish  to  be  no  longer  cheerful ;  and,  by  seeking  soli- 
tude, should  fall  into  a  state  of  melancholy,  not  to  say  sullen- 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  '  89 

liess.  If  you  should  feel  this  kind  of  contempt  for  me,  what 
could  I  say  or  do  to  prove  that  I  know  I  act  rationally,  and  that 
you— yes,  you,  gay  and  wanton  as  you  now  are— must  come  to 
a  like  state  of  seriousness  and  solemn  stillness,  in  order  to  com- 
mune with  your  own  heart,  and  thus  discover  its  deceitfulness ; 
or  else— the  alternative  is  dreadful,  but  not  more  dreadful  than 
true — or  else  lose  your  salvation.  This  may  not  appear  to  you, 
at  this  time,  a  necessary  truth ;  but  I  pray  that  a  merciful  God 
will  ere  long  open  your  eyes,  as  he  has  been  graciously  pleased 
to  open  mine.  Be  assured,  that  the  unconcerned  and  wicked 
among  men — and  I  fear  they  are  the  major  part — walk  in  dark- 
ness ;  but,  believe  me,  there  is  a  day  of  visitation  to  every  son 
and  daughter  of  Adam,  in  which,  if  they  resist  not  the  monitor 
of  truth  in  their  own  bosoms,  they  may  come  to  know  how  they 
are  entangled  in  sin.  I  know  that  my  zeal,  to  convince  you 
would  be  in  vain,  use  what  arguments  I  might,  unless  the  Spirit 
of  God  disposed  your  heart  to  believe.  If,  however,  you  have 
any  regard  for  me,  as  an  old  friend,  you  will  not  slight  the  ad- 
vice I  offer,  which  I  will  comprise  in  two  words — be  serious. 

"  Believe  me  your  friend, 

"AQUILA  M.  BOLTON." 

To  both  these  letters  Mr.  Milnor  thus  refers  in  his  earlier 
diary :  ,  .      "         , 

"April  7,  1800. — How  singularly  astonishing  are  some  of 
the  incidents  of  this  life !  I  received,  some  time  since,  a  letter 
from  my  old  friend  Aquila  M.  Bolton,  that  really  surprised  and 
affected  me  exceedingly.  The  gay,  the  volatile,  the  facetious 
Bolton,  has  become  a  zealous  convert  to  religion  ;  and  his  letter, 
which  is  handsomely  written,  is  an  appeal  to  my  feelings,  and  a 
solemn  warning  of  the  danger  of  my  present  state,  as  he  calls  it, 
of  apostasy  and  unbelief.  He  reprobates,  in  the  strongest  terms, 
his  former  opinions,  discards  all  philosophy  and  reasoning  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  declares  his  present  belief  to  be  produced  by 
a  clear  and  solid  conviction,  and  concludes  with  a  warm  and 
affectionate  call  to  embrace  the  truths,  of  which  he  says  he  is  as 
clearly  satisfied  as  that  two  and  two  make  four. 

"  My  acquaintance  with  Bolton  has  been  of  longer  standing 
than  any  which  I  at  present  know.     It  commenced  when  we 


90  -MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

were  children,  and  grew  into  a  friendship  of  the  warmest  kind, 
when  we  both  began  the  study  of  the  law.  Bolton,  soon  after 
his  admission,  became  disgusted  with  the  practice ;  and  Mr.  An- 
thony Butler  offering  him  his  patronage,  he  determined  to  enter 
into  commercial  life.  He  went  out  supercargo  for  Mr.  Butler  to 
the  West  Indies ;  and  afterwards,  a  favorable  opportunity  occur- 
ring, he  settled  himself  in  th^e  island  of  St.  Domingo,  and  entered 
into  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Lewis,  a  native  of  the  place.  He 
received  from  Mr.  Butler  and  others  considerable  consignments, 
and  appeared  to  be  in  a  fair  way  to  riches.  But  in  the  midst  of 
these  prospects  Mr.  Butler  failed,  with  property  of  Bolton  and 
Lewis  in  his  hands  to  a  very  large  amount;  and  the  political 
relations  between  this  country  and  France  obliged  Congress  to 
interdict  all  intercourse  of  our  citizens  with  that  nation  and  her 
possessions.  The  large  consignments  made  to  Mr.  Butler  being 
principally  purchased  on  credit,  the  bills  drawn  on  him  being 
protested,  and  the  trade  with  this  country  totally  suspended,  Bol- 
ton's high  expectations  were  blasted  in  the  bud.  Whether  these 
reverses  have  depressed  and  weakened  my  friend's  nerves,  and 
produced  a  habit  of  melancholy  calculated  to  lay  him  open  to  the 
attacks  of  enthusiasm,  or  whether  his  state  of  mind  is  the  result 
of  sober  inquiry  and  real  conversion,  I  cannot  pretend  to  deter- 
mine.        ,  -  ••  ■  '-  ;  •     -  V  ?•. 

"  I  have  received  another  letter  from  him  to-day,  much  in  the 
same  strain  with  the  former,  and  it  tends  to  increase  my  belief 
in  the  sincerity  of  his  professions ;  but  I  have  seen  so  many 
changes  of  this  sort  effected  by  the  despondency  of  the  moment, 
which  have  been  only  coeval  with  that  condition  of  the  mind,  and 
have  given  way  at  the  dawn  of  better  prospects,  that  I  cannot 
give  full  credence  to  the  solidity  and  unalterableness  of  his  pres- 
ent resolutions. 

"  In  the  usual  style  of  young  and  enthusiastic  converts,  my 
friend  speaks  in  terms  of  perfect  carelessness  as  to  the  reflections 
and  contempt  of  the  world.  He  even  fears  he  shall  be  obliged  to 
bear  my  reproaches ;  for  he  looks  on  me  as  an  absolute  apostate 
from  the  faith,  and  in  a  state  nigh  unto  destruction.  He  observes 
that  he  does  not  expect  success  to  attend  his  persuasions,  unless 
it  be  the  allotted  moment  of  visitation ;  but  he  repeats  the  most 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  91 

fervent  strains  of  eulogy  on  his  own^  and  the  most  earnest  dec- 
larations of  anxiety  for  my  conversion. 

"  Bolton  is  wrong  in  supposing  that  I  would  ridicule  or  con- 
temn his  sentiments.  I  believe  religion  to  be  the  grand  bulwark 
of  society ;  and  I  have  long  deemed  it  unjustifiable  to  insult  its" 
professors,  even  though  I  may  believe  their  notions,  in  some  par- 
ticulars, absurd,  or  themselves  too  enthusiastically  devout.  I 
confess,  the  religion  which  I  wish  to  see  prevalent,  is  that  which 
is  comprised  in  a  monition  not  likely  to  be  too  often  repeated,  to 
do  to  others  as  we  would  be  willing  they  should  do  to  us.  I  have 
never  been  able  to  persuade  myself  that  one-half  of  mankind  can, 
under  any  circumstances,  be  sentenced  to  eternal  perdition ;  es- 
pecially, as  zealots  say,  though  they  have  fulfilled  all  the  requi- 
sitions of  the  moral  and  social  law.  But  I  respect  even  this  zeal 
in  those  whom  I  think  unnecessarily  devout,  because  I  think  they 
intend  well ;  and  I  believe  that  enthusiasm  itself  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  good  effects  among  a  numerous  class,  whom  it  has  led 
from  destructive  habits  of  irregularity  and  intemperance  to  a 
sober,  orderly,  and  quiet  deportment,  . 

"  Whatever  doubts  and  difficulties  may  envelope  my  concep- 
tions of  certain  doctrinal  tenets,  and  mysteries  in  religion  which 
I  cannot  understand,  Grod  forbid  that  I  should  ever  attempt  to 
shake  the  faith  of  any  man." 

Two  days  after  this  long  note,  he  makes  this  brief  entry : 
"  April  9,  1800.  Answered  the  two  letters  of  my  friend  Bolton." 
Would  that  this  answer  were  at  this  day  recoverable.  From  the 
foregoing  extracts,  however,  it  is  easy  to  see  what  were  Mr.  Mil- 
nor's  religious  notions  at  the  time  when  that  answer  was  written. 
They  were  what,  many  years  later,  when  rector  of  St.  George's, 
he  thus  describes,  in  a  long  letter  to  one  of  his  female  parishion- 
ers. She  had  written  him  a  minute  account  of  her  sceptical 
doubts  and  difficulties  on  the  subject  of  the  Christian  scheme, 
with  an  evidently  sincere  and  earnest  desire  to  be  relieved  of  her 
embarrassments,  and  to  reach  a  settled  and  comforting  faith  ;  and 
he  was  about  to  advise  a  particular  course  of  inquiry  with  a  view 
to  her  relief.     He  introduces  his  advice  by  saying, 

"Now,  the  recommendation  with  which  I  am  encouraged. to 
follow  this  suggestion,  is  warranted  by  my  own  experience  of  its 


92  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

benefits.  I  acknowledge  to  you,  that  I  was  once  a  subject  of  like 
temptations  with  yourself;  and  that,  for  a  time,  I  pacified  my 
conscience  by  avoiding'  an  absolute  rejection  of  revelation^  and 
substituting  an  unintelligent  acquiescence  in  that  miserable 
scheme  of  universal  salvation,  which  I  am  happy  to  find  you 
have  been  enabled  more  promptly  to  reject.  So  many  rational, 
as  well  as  scriptural  arguments,  however,  continually  arose 
against  those  which  seemed  to  support  that  specious  plan,  that  I 
was  determined  to  satisfy  myself,  by  abandoning  all  conjectures 
on  the  subject,  and  betaking  myself  exclusively  to  the  plain  dec- 
larations of  Scripture,  But  before  I  took  this  step,  I  began  to 
question  whether  I  was  a  real  believer  in  the  Volume  of  Inspira- 
tion. It  occurred  to  me  that  I  could  not  so  continually  find  fault 
with  the  providential  arrangements  of  God,  and  with  the  declar- 
ations of  his  word,  if  I  were  certainly  convinced  of  the  truth  of 
this  sacred  book.  I  therefore  concluded  to  examine  the  evidences 
of  its  pretensions.  I  did  so.  My  rational  understanding  was 
convinced.  I  had  no  mor6  doubt  of  the  genuineness  and  authen- 
ticity of  the  Scriptures  than  of  "my  own  existence ;  nor  have  I 
now.  Still,  I  was  staggered  at  some  of  its  parts ;  and  as  I  now 
dared  not  reject  them,  I  was  disposed  to  put  my  own  interpreta- 
tionon  their  import.  My  views  erred  principally  in  the  reception 
of  unevangelical  notions  of  the  doctrines  of  the  New  Testament, 
These  led  me  to  an  undue  appreciation  of  human  effort,  and  to  a 
mischievous  conceit  of  the  merit  of  works,  I  was  disposed  neither 
to  sink  myself,  nor  to  exalt  the  Saviour.  But,  thaaks  be  to  God, 
this  state  of  things  was  not  to  last.  I  became  concerned  for  a 
deeper  acquaintance  with  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gos- 
pel. I  read  my  Bible  more — more  too  in  the  spirit  of  a  learner. 
I  ventured  to  pray.  By  the  light  of  God's  word,  and,  as  I  trust, 
by  the  help  of  his  Spirit,  I  discerned  the  character  of  man.  I 
saw  my  own  character  in  its  proper  colors,  I  perceived,  on  the 
ground  of  an  authority  to  which  my  understanding  unhesitating- 
ly assented,  that  I  was  a  sinner — by  the  sentence  of  the  Law,  a 
condemned  sinner — and  had  no  hope  of  mercy  but  through  a 
Saviour,  I  was  convinced  that  such  a  being  as  I  was,  never 
could  be  admitted  to  the  presence  of  a  holy  God,  but  through  the 
atonement  and  mediation  of  the  Redeemer  ;  that  a  change,  also, 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  93 

in  my  heart  and  affections  was  indispensable ;  and  that  God's 
Spirit  alone  Could  bestow  the  needed  blessing.  As  I  firmly  be- 
lieved my  eternal  salvation  depended  on  an  experience  of  'a 
death  unto  sin,  and  a  new  birth  unto  righteousness,'  I  sought  it 
in  deep  repentance  and  in  vigorous  exercises  of  faith  in  Christ,  in 
earnest  supplication,  and  in  the  prayerful  study  of  sacred  writ, 
and  when  emboldened  to  do  so,  in,  the  ordinances  of  religion.  I 
hope  I  was  careful  to  take  no  merit  to  myself  for  any  of  these 
exercises,  but  to  give  the  glory  of  my  salvation  wholly  to  my 
Grod  and  Saviour." 

Thus  ran  his  own  experience ;  and  to  the  adoption  of  a  simi- 
lar course  of  inquiry  and  of  prayer,  he  proceeds  to  urge  his  doubt- 
ing and  troubled  parishioner.  It  appears,  therefore,  that  friend 
Aquila,  though  he  evidently  underrated  his  "dear  James's"  high- 
mindedness  and  generosity,  by  supposing  him  capable  of  treating 
his  friend's  views  with  ridicule  or  contempt,  was  yet,  after  all, 
not  far  in  the  wrong  in  considering  him  the  subject  of  a  pretty 
thorough  scepticism  in  regard  to  the  true  system  of  the  Gospel, 
at  the  time  when  he  addressed  to  him  those  two  faithful  and 
searching  letters.  The  state  of  Mr.  Milnor's  mind  was  then  evi- 
dently what  he  describes  in  the  forrner  part  of  the  extraot  above 
given  from  the  letter  to  his  doubting  parishioner.  He  supposed 
himself  to  have  avoided  an  absolute  rejection  of  revelation  by 
adopting,  unintelligently,  the  theory  of  a  universal  salvation ; 
and  yet  he  found,  upon  afterwards  looking  into  his  mind,  that  he 
had  all  along  had  too  little  reason  for  regarding  himself  as  really 
a  believer  in  the  inspiration  of  the  sacred  Scriptures. 

At  what  period  he  began  his  prayerful  study  of  the  Bible  and 
of  the  evidences  of  its  truth  and  divine  inspiration,  as  described 
in  the  latter  part  of  that  extract,  we  have  no  means  of  ascertain- 
ing ;  but  it  was  probably  soon  after  the  receipt  of  his  friend  Bol- 
ton's letters.  We  know,  however,  very  well,  when  the  resulting 
state  of  a  thorough  rational  conviction  of  the  truth  and  inspiration 
of  the  Bible  passed  into  those  deeper  convictions  of  the  heart 
which  he  mentions,  and  which,  by  revealing  him  to  himself  as 
a  condemned  sinner,  drove  him,  in  vigorous  faith,  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  his  only  hope  of  pardon  and  eternal  life.  That 
state,  then,  of  mere  rational  conviction,  attended,  for  a  series  of 


94:'  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

years,  with  an  "  overvaluation  of  human  effort  and  a  mischiev- 
ous conceit  of  the  merit  of  works,"  continued,  with  a  tendency 
perhaps  towards  juster  views,  -till  after  the  close  of  his  second 
session  in  Congress ;  and  it  was  then,  more  especially  during  his 
third  winter  in  Washington,  that  it  unequivocally  passed  into 
those  interior  experiences,  in  which  his  true  religious  life  took 
its  beginning.  This  general  course  of  his  mind  on  the  subject 
of  religion  we  shall  see  marked  with  sufficient  distinctness  when 
we  proceed  to  look  further  at  his  resumed  diary,  and  at  his  let- 
ters to  Mrs.  Milnor,  and  to  his  friend  Thomas  Bradford,  Jr. 

As  ta  his  friend  Bolton,  whose  letters  evidently  affected  his 
mind  deeply,  and  may  have  been  the  blessed  occasion  of  turn- 
ing it  away  from  its  early  looseness  and  scepticism  towards 
juster  religious  thought,  subsequent  letters  from  him  show,  that 
after  the  breaking  up  of  his  opening  fortunes  by  the  failure  of 
Mr.  Butler,  he  had  a  life  of  various  adventure  in  various  lands ; 
a  series  of  enterprises  and  ill-successes,  of  hopes  and  disappoint- 
ments; struggling  hard,  the  while,  to  abide  in  faithfulness  to  his 
God  and  Saviour ;  till  finally,  we  find  him  returned  to  his  native 
country,  and  quietly  settled — with  bright  prospects  once  more, 
and,  judging  from  the  style  of  his  address,  a  gay  and  cheerful 
member  of  the  society  of  Friends — in  the  village  of  Wheeling, 
in  Western  Virginia :  having,  as  to  denominational  peculiarities, 
landed  in  the  very  haven  from  which  his  friend  James  took  his 
departure,  when  read  out  of  the  Quaker  meeting.  By  what 
steps  the  latter  reached  so  different  a  resting-place,  and  attained 
to  the  character  and  station  in  which  we  are  mainly  to  contem- 
plate him,  and  in  which  he  stands  forth  an  object  of  so  much 
interest  to  the  church  of  Christ,  we  are  now  to  see.   - 

Mr.  Milnor's  earlier  diary  broke  off  in  the  year  1800.  His 
later  was  begun  in  1809.  In  character  and  object  the  two  are 
very  unlike.  What  the  former  aims  at,  we  have  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  judging.  What  the  latter  contemplates,  will  be  under- 
stood when  we  state  that  it  consists  almost  wholly  of  a  series  of 
reports  or  abstracts  written  from  memory,  and  sometimes  very 
full,  of  the  various  sermons  which  he  heard  preached  in  the  years 
1809,  1810,  and  1813,  chiefly  in  one  of  the  three  associated 
churches  in  Philebdelphia,  of  which  Bishop  White  was  rector. 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  95 

This  diary,  however,  if  it  may  be  called  such,  is  valuable  to  us  in 
exploring  an  earlier  period  of  his  life  than  any  included  in  its 
dates,  from  the  circumstance  that,  on  several  occasions,  he  pauses 
from  his  homiletic  reports  and  indulges  in  serious  retrospects, 
which  enable  us  to  see  along  what  track  his  mind  had  been 
moving.  Sometimes,  too,  he  intersperses  his  reports  with  remarks 
of  his  own,  which  reveal  to  us  the  tone  and  spirit  of  his  religious 
views  during  the  years  in  which  those  reports  were  written. 

These  reports  were  evidently  begun  after  his  examination  of 
the  Bible  and  its  evidences  had  so  thoroughly  convinced  his  reason 
that  the  book  was  God's.  His  habit  of  writing  them  was  inter- 
rupted by  his  elQption  to  Congress ;  but  was  for  a  short  time 
resumed,  with  more  of  interspersed  journalizing,  in  the  year  1813, 
after  he  had  left  Washington  and  political  life  together,  and  had 
resolved  to  devote  himself  to  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry. 
Upon  this  temporary  resumption  of  his  habit,  he  thus  laments 
the  effects  of  the  cause  by  which  it  had  been  interrupted,  under 
date  of  March  25,  1813. 

Early  in  October,  1810,  "  I  was  elected  a  member  of  the  12th 
Congress  ;  and  my  mind  being  soon  very  much  bccupied  with 
arrangements  preparatory  to  leaving  home,  was  most  prejudicially 
drawn  from, that  attention  to  religion  which  I  had  previously 
found  increasing  upon  me  in  a  most  encouraging  manner." 

His  weekly  exercise  in  writing  out  what  he  could  remember 
of  the  sermons  which  he  heard,  was  designed  to  assist  him  in 
reaping  better  fruits  than  he  had  been  wont  to  realize  from  his 
religious  instructions.  He  was  in  fact,  even  then,  darkly  feeling 
his  way  towards  a  light  in  which  he  was  to  walk  rejoicingly,  as 
one  who  could  see  his  Leader.  After  taking  brief  notes  of  three 
sermons  to  which  he  had  been  listening  on  Sunday,  the  17th  of 
September,  1809,  he  appends  the  following  reflections. 

"If  I  did  not  know  the  inconstancy  of  my, resolutions,  and 
even  doubt  the  possibility  of  my  adhering  to  so  good  an  one,  I 
would  propose  to  note  occasionally  the  text  and  subject  of  such 
sermons  as  I  may  hear.  It  is  astonishing  how  evanescent  has 
been  the  impression  made  by  those, to  which  I  have  heretofore 
listened.  I  have  supposed  myself  attentive,  have  been  pleased, 
instructed,  sometimes  feelingly  affected ;  but  the  impression  has 


96-  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

passed  away  like  '  the  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew,'  and' 
the  lapse  of  a  few  days  has  effaced  all  memory  of  the  text  and 
the  commentary.  To  what  is  this  owing  ?  In  a  great  degree  to 
the  want  of  a  retentive  memory,  though  such  a  memory  is  so 
necessary  in  my  professional  pursuits ;  but  conscience  tells  me  it 
arises  principally  from  the  want  of  a  feeling  of  real  interest  and 
concern  in  the  business  of  religion.  The  heart  must  be  engaged : 
it  will  then  enlist  all  the  powers  of  memory  on  its  side.  I  listen 
to  sermons  as  to  a  speech  at  the  bar,  or  a  recitation  at  the  theatre. 
I  listen  for  amusement,  and  from  habit.  I  go  to  church  because 
I  have  been  used  to  go  thither  at  statedly  recurring  periods.  I 
do  not  reflect  afterwards  on  what  has  been  said,  nor  ask  myself, 
*  Am  I  wiser,  am  I  better  for  what  I  have  heard?'  ,    v- 

"  A  knowledge  of  one's  fault  is  said  to  be  the  first  step  towards 
amendment.  I  wish  it  were  so  with  me  ;  but  I  have  long  known 
my  errors  aiid  inattentions,  yet  they  are  not  removed  nor  les- 
sened. I  would  still  hope  for  a  change,  if  I  dared  rely  on  any 
determination  of  my  own,  or  dared  to  ask  for  a  superior  influ-  - 
ence  to  effect  tt.^^ 

This  is  one  of  those  points  already  mentioned,  at  which  he 
pauses  from  his  weekly  work  of  writing  out  abstracts  of  sermons, 
and  throws  his  mind  back  into  thoughtful  retrospect.  Accord- 
ingly, after  recording  the  fact  of  his  disownment  by  the  Quakers, 
soon  after  his  marriage  in  1799,  he  proceeds  to  some  remarks  on 
the  preaching  to  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  listening,  especially 
on  the  ofFensivenesS  to  his  mind  of  certain  doctrinal  discussions 
which  he  could  not  relish,  and  to  which,  in  his  keen  pursuit  of 
wealth  and  pleasure,  and  in  his  self-righteous  "  conceit  of  the 
merit  of  works,"  it  may  fairly  be  assumed  he  was  not  qualified 
to  do  justice.     He  writes, 

"  The  Rev.  John  Blair  Linn  was  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  Philadelphia,  and  incited  by  a  great  fondness  for 
his  style  of  preaching,  which  was  liberal  and  unsectarian,  though 
at  once  evangelical  and  moral,  I  took  part  of  a  pew  in  that 
church."  [This  appears  to  have  been  not  long  after  his  separa- 
tion frorri  the  society  of  Friends.]  "In  a  few  years  death  de- 
prived the  congregation  of  this  valuable  minister,  and  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  a  man  of  great  learning 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  97 

and  most  exemplary  piety,  but  so  devoted  to  the  peculiar  doc- 
trines of  the  Calvinists,  and  the  discussion  of  intricate  points  of 
theology,  and  though  amiable  in  an  eminent  degree  in  private 
life,  yet  so  illiberal,  austere,  and  sour  in  the  pulpit,  that  I  could 
not,  with  satisfaction  or  profit,  continue  my  attendance  on  his 
administration.  My  aversion  to  many  of  the  dogmas  of  the 
Presbyterians,  and  to  Mr.  Wilson's  style  of  preaching,  induced 
me  to  take  a  pew  in  the  new  church  of  St.  James,  where  I  now 
attend."  '  , 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  although  this  was  written  in 
1809,  it  goes  back  in  its  retrospect  to  at  least  the  beginning 
of  1800,  and  therefore  to  the  time  when  friend  Aquila's  letters 
were  written.  And  yet  a  passage  in  his  diary,  too  long  for  in- 
sertion here,  clearly  implies,  that  while  Mr.  Milnor  attended  the 
Presbyterian  church,  he  admitted  the  truth  and  inspiration  of 
the  Bible,  and  even  agreed  with  his  preachers,  Mr.  Linn  and  Mr. 
Wilson,  if  not  in  all  points  of  speculative  faith,  at  least  in  what 
he  deemed  the  essential  doctrines  of  revelation.  His  study  of 
the  Bible  and  its  evidences,  therefore,  and  his  rational  conviction 
of  its  divine  origin,  must  have  been  very  soon  after  the  receipt 
of  Mr.  Bolton's  letters.  They  could  not  have  had  an  earlier 
date,  because,  as  we  have  seen,  his  contemporaneous  comments 
on  those  letters  show  him  to  have  been  at  that  time,  however 
unintelligently,  yet  practically  a  believer  in  the  notion  of  an  uni- 
versal salvation ;  while  his  own  subsequent  letter  to  his  doubt- 
ing parishioner  proves,  on  his  own  acknowledgment,  that  so  long 
as  that  notion  continued  to  occupy  his  mind,  he  was  virtually 
without  faith  in  a  revelation.  It  was,  in  fact,  his  discovery  of 
this  that  impelled  him  to  his  investigations,  and  thus  led  to  that 
mere  rational  faith — that  assent  of  the  reason  to  the  truth  of  the 
Scriptures,  without  the  heart's  experience  of  their  power — of 
which  we  have  spoken,  and  with  which  he  so  evidently  sat  under 
the  teachings  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  all  probability, 
then,  the  conversion  of  his  reason  took  place  very  soon  after  he 
received  his  friend  Bolton's  letters ;  while  that  of  his  heart  was 
deferred  to  a  long  subsequent  period. 

From  this  comparison  of  dates  and  circumstances,  we  gather 
increasing  evidence,  that  the  letters  of  Mr.  Bolton,  -yvhioh  so  "  ex- 


98  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ceedingly  sur^prised  and  affected^''  the  mind  of  his  friend,-  may- 
have  lain  at  the  very  beginning  of  that  series  of  providential 
means  by  which  he  was  led  away  from  his  earlier  cold,  practical 
unbelief,  first  to  inquiry,  then  to  intellectual  assent,  and  finally, 
after  long  years  of  self-righteous  trustings,  to  that  "  belief  of  the 
heart  which  is  unto  righteousness,  and  that  confession  of  the 
mouth  which  is  unto  salvation."  So  late  as  the  autumn  of 
1809,  he  was  not  only  unstable  as  water,  "  in  any  determinations 
of  his  own,"  but  without  prayer  for  divine  aid.  He  "  dared  not 
to  ask  for  superior  influence  to  effect  a  changed  In  truth,  dur- 
ing the  whole  period  from  1802  down  to  1812,  he  was  evidently 
striving  to  confirm  himself  in  those  "  unevangelical  views  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  New  Testament,"  which  "  led  him  to  an  undue 
appreciation  of  human  eflJbrt,  and  to  a  mischievous  conceit  of  the 
merit  of  works  ;"  and  his  fighting,  meanwhile,  with  the  dogmas 
of  Calvinism^  be  the  truth  or  error  of  that  system  what  it  may, 
was  just  a  convenient  shield  against  deeper  self-knowledge,  used 
to  protect  himself  yet  longer  in  his  overestimate  of  mere  out- 
ward morality. 

His  friend  T.  Bradford,  Jr.,  has  a  paragraph  in  his  "  Reminis- 
cences" which  touches  a  portion  of  the  above  period.  "  He  was 
for  several  years  a  worshipper  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
in  Market-street,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  James  P. 
Wilson,  D.  D.  The  acuteness,  discrimination,  and  learning  of 
the  doctor,  who  had  been  for  many  years  an  eminent  lawyer  in 
the  state  of  Delaware,  and  whose  sermons  were  peculiarly  marked 
by  the  characteristics  of  a  legal  mind,  were  highly  interesting  to 
him,  though  he  could  not  then  accord  with  the  strictness  of  their 
theology.  The  subject  of  religion  became  frequently  the  topic  of 
conversation  in  our  daily  walks,  and  we  often  discoursed  on  the 
Calvinistic  system — he  opposing,  and  I,  according  to  my  view 
of  the  Bible,  raaintaining  its  correctness  ;  whilst  neither  of  us,  ^t 
the  time,  had  any  spiritual  light  or  knowledge." 

In  the  last  extract  from  Mr.  Milnor's  later  diary  is  stated  the 
fact,  with  the  reason  for  it,  of  his  leaving  the  Presbyterian,  and 
beginning  to  attend  the  Episcopal  church.  From  the  circum- 
stance, then,  that  His  practice  of  taking  notes  of  sermons  in  St. 
James',  and  his  assignment  of  reasons  for  transferring  his  attend- 


RELIGIOUS    CHANGE.  99 

ance  thither,  are  both  mentioned  for  the  fif st  time  under  the  date 
of  Sept.  17,  1809,  it  may  perhaps  be  rightly  inferred  that  this 
transfer  of  church  relations  took  place  a  short  time  before  that 
date,  or  when  he  was  about  thirty-six  years  of  age.  That  change, 
whatever  we  may  think  of  the  reason  for  it,  may  have  been 
favorable  to  his  religious  hopes,  inasmuch  as  Mb  evidently  intense 
dislike  of  Calvinistic  doctrines  was  no  longer  irritated  and  kept 
open,  like  a  frequently  fretted  sore  ;  while  his  mind,  freed  from 
such  a  source  of  annoyance,  was  the  more  likely  to  reflect  calmly 
and  seriously  upon  those  uncontroverted  truths  of  the  Gospel,  to 
which  he  listened  both  before  and  after  the  transfer  was  made. 
This  inference  seems  supported  by  his  diary,  so  far  as  it  sheds 
any  light  on  the  progress  of  his  religious  views ;  for  although  ho 
continued  three  years  longer  to  cherish  unevangelical  notions  of 
the  doctrines  of  the  New  Testament,  yet  there  is  evidence  that 
he  was  all  that  while  feeling  after  something  to  which  he  knew 
he  had  never  attained.  The  very  fact,  that  he  was  so  earnest  in 
taking  careful  and  often  copious  notes  of  the  sermons  which  he 
heard,  shows  that  he  was  resolved,  so  far  as  his  weak  resolutions 
were  of  any  worth,  to  press  on  from  the  mere  rational  belief 
which  he  had  reached,  to  something  which  he  might  regard  as  a 
corresponding  experience  of  the  heart.  And  besides  this,  his 
notes  of  sermons  are,  as  we  have  said,  occasionally  interspersed 
with  remarks  of  his  own,  which  indicate  at  least  a  growing  ten- 
derness of  feeling,  and  reflectiveness  of  habit ;  however  little  they 
may,  as  yet,  show  of  the  true  light  breaking  on  his  spirit.  Some 
of  these  remarks  occur  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1810.  During 
the  latter  part  of  1809,  he  had  suffered  his  new  habit  of  noting 
down  sermons  to  be  interrupted.  He  therefore  began  the  new 
year  with  this  sober  record  : 

"  Jan.,  1810.— Various  reasons,  which  it  is  unnecessary  to 
enumerate,  because,  when  combined,  they  furnish  no  Sufficient 
apology  for  the  neglect,  have  occasioned  a  breach  of  my  resolu- 
tion to  note  very  briefly  the  substance  of  the  religious  discourses 
to  which  I  attend ;  not  that  my  attendance  on  the  devotional 
exercises  of  the  Sabbath  has  been  interrupted,  but  that  causes, 
sometimes  of  more  weight  than  at  others,  have  induced  a  yield- 
ing to  my  habitual  indolence  of  disposition.     This  I  have  contin- 


100  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

nally  to  lament,  as  '  the  sin  which  does  most  easily  beset  me.' 
It  produces  its  effects  on  all  my  habits,  as  well  professional  as 
others ;  and  although  I  cannot  deem  myself  at  all  times  and  in 
all  respects  its  victim,  yet  I  am  so  in  a  degree  injurious  to  my 
concerns  and  oppressive  to  my  feelings.  It  is  easier  to  resolve 
to  shake  it  off,  than  to  do  so — to  form  resolutions  of  industry,  than 
to  adhere  to  them."  Doubtless  he  stands  alone  in  thus  urging 
against  himself  the  charge  of  the  sin  of  indolence. 

"  The  close  of  the  old  year,  and  the  commencement  of  the 
new,  have  given  birth  to  many  sermons  on  the  value  of  time  and 
the  brevity  of  life  ;  the  uncertainty  of  terrestrial  enjoyments,  and 
the  certainty  of  irrespective  death,  and  of  a  future  accountability 
at  the  bar  of  an  almighty  Judge,  for  our  negligences  and  omis- 
sions of  duty,  as  well  as  for  the  transgressions  of  this  life ;  and 
yet,  how  many,  like  myself,  listen  to  these  solemn  truths  and 
awful  warnings  as  to  '  a  twice-told  tale  !'  "We  hear — we  assent; 
but  where  is  to  be  seen  the  beneficial  result  ?  Seldom  in  our 
secular  concerns ;  much  more  seldom  in  those  of  our  immortal 
souls." 

Thus  entered  he  on  the  year  1810 — questioning  solemnly,  yet 
coming  to  no  decision.  He  had  not  yet  looked  far  enough,  if  at 
all,  into  the  hidden  cause  of  his  deep  prejudice  against  the  truth, 
and  of  his  long  and  frequent  failures  to  make  progress  in  a  better 
life.  A  sight  into  the  dark  deeps  of  sin  in  his  own  heart  was 
yet  to  be  vouchsafed  him,  before  he  could  do  more  than  run  round 
a  circle  of  oft-formed  and  as  oft  broken  purposes — ^before  he  could 
start  on  a  really  onward  and  upward  movement  in  the  divine  life 
of  the  soul. 

Immediately  after  his  new  year's  reflections,  he  proceeds, 
through  several  pages  of  his  diary,  to  discuss  a  topic  which  had 
«vidently  been  for  some  time  occupying  his  mind :  the  propriety 
of  forms  of  prayer  in  the  public  devotions  of  Christians.  This 
question,  he  says,  was  long  a  perplexing  one  to  his  mind.  But 
it  had  ceased  to  be  so,  from  first  doubting  the  claims  of  his  for- 
mer associates,  the  Friends,  to  immediate  inspiration  in  the  duty 
of  public  prayer  ;  and  from  next  observing  that  his  later  associ- 
'  ates,  the  Presbjrterians  and  others,  although  they  had  no  estab- 
lished written  forms,  yet  proceeded  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  in 


"^''       OK  THB  '^ 

mVEESITl 

RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  Vi?/5*4,m      vr\^- 

the  use  of  nearly  the  same  words  in  their  devotional  exercises. 
Reasoning  on  from  these  doubts  and  observations,  he  comes  out 
in  the  conclusions,  first,  that  in  public  worship,  written  prayers 
are  proper  ;  second,^  that  if  proper,  and  therefore  used,  they  ought  , 

to  be  established  by  ecclesiastical  authority ;  and  third,  that  if 
they  are  to  be  thus  established,  no  better  can  be  expected  than 
those  already  furnished  in  the  Common  Prayer  of  the  English 
find  American  Episcopal  church  :  all  these  conclusions  being  sub- 
ject to  the  condition,  that  in  private  worship,  the  individual  may 
adapt  his  supplications  to  the  circumstances  of  the  moment ; 
using  either  prepared  forms,  or  the  pious  and  feeling  effusions  of 
his  own  mind.  The  whole  disquisition  is  interesting,  but  too 
long  for  insertion.  It  is  enough  to  say  of  it,  that  although  he 
had  been  but  a  few  months  a  worshipper  in  the  Episcopal  church, 
yet  it  shows  him  to  have  been  no  unreflecting  observer  of  her 
forms,  and  that  he  had  already  become,  in  one  point,  a  sound 
Episcopalian,  if  not  an  experienced  Christian. 

The  next  extract  to  be  given  from  his  diary  is  interesting, 
not  so  much  from  the  fact  which  it  records,  as  from  the  allusion 
which  it  contains.     It  is  part  of  his  entry  on  the  evening  of 

"Sunday,  Jan.  27,  1810. — In  the  evening  went  to  hear  Dr.  ,', 

Pilmore,  at  St.  Paul's  church. 

"  This  gentleman,  in  his  mode  of  preaching,  departs  from  the 
general  practice  of  Episcopal  clergymen  in  two  respects.  He 
does  not  write  his  sermons,  but  speaks  from  short  notes ;  and  he 
is  much  more  evangelical  in  the  treatment  of  his  subject,  and 
much  more  fervent  in  his  delivery.  This,  as  may  be  expected, 
increases  the  admiration  of  the  more  pious  members  of  his  flock, 
while  it  diminishes  his  popularity  with  others.     For  my  part,  as  , 

he  is  a  man  of  undoubted  talents,  and,  from  his  long  service  in 
the  office  of  a  public  minister,  is  fluent  in  his  style,  and  sufli- 
ciently  methodical  and  perspicuous  in  the  distribution  of  the 
heads  of  his  discourses,  and  very  ready  in  his  scriptural  quota- 
tions and  allusions,  I  feel  no  great  repugnance  to  the  circum- 
stance of  his  sermons  being,  in  a  considerable  degree,  extempore. 

"  As  to  the  evangelical  character  of  his  discourses,  it  is,  in 
my  opinion,  unobjectionable,  because  he  allies  it  with,  and  makes 
it  auxiliary  to  the  inculcation  of  morals ;  and  he  sets  forth  the 


102  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.       . 

atonement  of  our  Saviour,  in  the  general  way  in  which  it  is 
viewed  by  most  Christians,  without  proposing  the  perplexing, 
intricate,  and  dark  theology,  which  the  stricter  Calvinists  deduce 
from  it.  He  enters  upon  no  critical  disquisitions  upon  nice  and 
disputable  doctrinal  points,  but  endeavors  to  fix  the  faith  and  the 
affections  of  his  hearers  upon  the  blessed  Redeemer,  as  the  alone 
means  of  salvation,  as  the  great  propitiation  for  sin,  as  the  divine 
Inculcator  of  morality,  as  the  glorious  Intercessor  for  his  people 
at  the  right  hand  of  Gkod,  and  as  the  everlasting  Judge  of  all  the 
earth,  who,  in  the  great  day  of  final  retribution,  will  give  to 
every  man  according  to  his  works," 

This  extract,  it  was  said,  is  interesting,  not  so  much  from 
the  fact  which  it  records — ^that  Mr.  Milnor  went  to  hear  Dr.  Pil- 
more — as  from  the  allusion  which  it  contains,  to  the  difference 
between  Dr.  Pilmore's  preaching,  and  that  of  the  Episcopal  clergy 
generally  in  his  day.  That  able  and  holy  man  of  God,  it  is  be- 
lieved, was,  after  the  times  of  Devereux  Jarrat,  among  the  first, 
if  not  the  very  first  of  those  whom  God  raised  up,  when  the 
effects  of  the  war  of  our  Revolution  had,  in  the  main,  passed 
away,  to  be  his  instruments  in  quickening  at  least  parts  of  a 
church,  which  had  been  left  all  but  spiritually  dead,  not  only 
under  the  ruthless  and  iron  hoof  of  war,  but  also  under  the 
chilling  and  deadening  influences — worse  than  those  of  war — 
exerted  by  long  years  of  most  "  unevangelical "  teachings.  The 
obloquy  which  such  men  as  Jarrat  and  Pilmore  were  compelled 
to  endure,  has  been  fruitful  of  precious  results.  They  have  suc- 
cessors to  their  spirit,  and,  God  favoring,  shall  continue  to  have, 
till  the  church  in  which  they  served  becomes,  as  nearly  as  the 
lot  of  man  admits,  all  life,  and  full  of  "  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit." 

But,  not  to  anticipate  too  largely  a  topic  which  may  again 
pass  under  our  notice,  it  is  evident  from  the  above  extract,  that 
Mr.  Milnor  was  not  only  growing  in  orthodoxy  of  faith,  but  also 
examining  for  himself  all  points,  as  they  came  along,  of  practi- 
cal interest ;  and  that,  so  far  as  his  examinations  were  carried, 
he  was  quietly  tending  towards  more  serious  views,  and  even 
losing  some  of  his  repugnance  to  evangelical  doctrines — ^provided, 
always,  they  stopped  short  of  the  much-dreaded  Calvinism  of 
the  stricter  sort,  against  which  he  had  so  long  warred.     The 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  103 

moderate  Calvinism,  if  so  it  may  be  termed,  of  the  evangelical 
preacher  did  not  offend  him,  because  he  saw  how  it  included  and 
produced  the  moralities  of  life.  The  doctrine  of  atonement  was 
not  unacceptable,  because  he  heard  deduced  from  it  no  decree  of 
"  unconditional  reprobation." 

Soon  after  his  connection  with  the  Episcopal  church,  as  an 
attendant  on  its  worship,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  vestrymen 
of  the  parish  to  which  he  belonged ;  and,  for  several  months  after 
the  new-year  of  1810,  continued,  with  increasing  interest,  his 
weekly  exercise  of  writing  out  sermons  from  memory.  In  the 
summer  of  that  year,  however,  this  exercise  was  again  interrupt- 
ed;  not  now  from  indolence,  but  from  other  causes.  Hence,  when 
he  resumed  this  exercise,  it  was  after  leaving  a  blank  page  of  his 
diary,  on  which  are  written  simply  these  words : 

"  Hiatus,  valde,  valde  deflendus" — 

expressive  of  the  deep  regret  which  he  felt  at  the  interruption; 
and  followed  by  this  short  note. 

"  Sept.  1,  1810. — Frequent  absence  from  the  city  during  the 
summer  months,  has  prevented  a  regular  attendance  on  public 
worship.  I  shall,  on  the  morrow,  resume  the  duty  with  real 
pleasure;  for,  after  all,  Sunday  is  to  me  not  only  a  day  of  f est 
from  the  vexatious  cares  of  life,  but  a  much  greater  source  of 
real  enjoyment,  when  employed  as  religion  and  conscience  enjoin, 
than  when  devoted  to  recreations  of  a  lighter  kind." 

Once,  had  he  written  as  he  felt,  Ke  would  probably  have  said, 
that  recreations  of  a  lighter  kind  were  more  pleasing  to  him 
than  a  Sunday  spent  as  religion  and  conscience  enjoin.  Thus 
far,  then,  had  he  been  led.  Habit,  and  perhaps  the  secret  teach- 
ings of  the  Spirit,  had  made  his  mode  of  spending  the  Lord's  day 
a  source  of  more  real  enjoyment  than  he  could  find  in  worldly 
amusements  on  the  Sabbath.  How  far  he  had  recently  been 
trying  those  amusements  during  his  summer  absences,  he  does 
not  say ;  but  he  leaves  something  of  room  for  the  inference  that 
he  had  been  indulging  in  them,  and  had  "after  all"  found  them 
more  than  usually  unsatisfying  in  connection  with  the  day. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  the  2d  of  September,  he  heard  a 
sermon  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Abercrombie,  on  "  The  Christian  life 


104  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

viewed  as  a  warfare.''''  To  a  somewhat  brief  notice  of  the  dis- 
course he  appends  the  following  remarks.  They  are  inserted  for 
the  view  which  they  furnish  of  his  religious  creed  at  that  period 
of  his  life. 

"Although,  in  this  discourse,  no  allusion  was  made  to  the 
Calvinistic  doctrine,  which  would  puff  up  any  individual  whose 
pride,  .egotism,  and  self-righteousness  led  him  to  suppose  him- 
self of  the  number  of  the  elect,  and  his  warfare  of  course  at 
an  end,  yet  I  never  hear  the  Christian  life  referred  to  as  a  state 
of  warfare  without  feeling  more  and  more  convinced  of  the 
falsity  of  that  doctrine.  I  believe  no  human  being,  until  he  has 
shaken  off  mortality,  is  exempt  from  a  liability  to  fall  into  sin; 
and  although  the  Calvinists  would  persuade  us  that  the  regen- 
erate cannot  presumptuously  sin,  yet  I  think  Scripture  and  all 
experience  are  against  the  supposition  of  any  such  state  of  per- 
fection in  this  life.  It  is  true,  they  talk  of  his  having  about  him 
some  of  the  remaining  corruptions  of  his  nature,  which  may  lead 
him  into  transgression;  but  they  consider  this  not  as  wilful  sin, 
and  rely  on  its  not  being  imputed  to  him  as  such.  How  much 
more  consonant  with  the  principles  of  right  reason  and  of  the 
Gospel  is  it,  to  suppose  that,  at  no  period  of  our  temporal  exist- 
ence, are  we  exempt  from  the  infirmities  of  our  nature,  from  ex- 
posure to  the  temptations  that  surround  us,  and,  in  our  best  state, 
from  the  danger  of  falling  from  rectitude  into  error  and  wicked- 
ness. The  degree  of  danger,  no  doubt,  depends  on  circumstances. 
The  man  who  entertains  just  conceptions  of  the  character  of  God, 
as  a  being  of  infinite  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness ;  who  views 
him  as  the  God  of  providence,  constantly  superintending,  influ- 
encing, and  controlling  the  works  which  he  has  made ;  who,  con- 
vinced of  his  divine  omnipresence,  considers  all  his  actions  and 
all  his  thoughts  as  every  moment  passing  the  ordeal  of  unerring 
inspection;  who,  believing  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ  and  the  plan 
of  salvation  which  it  displays,  adds  to  his  faith  obedience  to  its 
principles  and  precepts,  and  who  loves  his  fellow-men,  and  is 
under  an  abiding  impression  that,  for  the  glory  of  God,  the  hap- 
piness of  man,  and  his  own  salvation,  it  is  necessary  for  him  '  to 
do  with  his  might  whatsoever  his  hands  find  to  do :'  such  a  man, 
I  say,  has  the  vantage-ground  of  his  enemies;   he  may  confi- 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  105 

dently  rely  on  the  pleasing  prospect  before  him,  of,  in  the  end, 
overcoming  all  his  foes,  and  of  being  permitted,  as  his  reward, 

*  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life,  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of 
God.' 

"  But  does  not  even  such  a  man  as  this  at  times  remember — 
if  not  with  a  feeling  apprehension  of  danger,  yet  with  that  dis- 
position to  be  ever  on  the  alert  which  characterizes  the  real  sol- 
dier— the  sacred  admonition,  '  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  stand- 
eth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall  ?'  Although  he  may  be  sensible  of  a 
strong  faith  in  Christ,  and  in  the  promises  of  the  Gospel,  and 
may  modestly  hope  the  seeds  of  divine  truth  have  fallen  into  his 
heart  as  good  ground,  which  he  may  determine  to  '  keep,  and 
bring  forth  fruit  with  patience ;'  yet,  will  his  trust  be  unmingled 
with  the  apprehension  lest  he  should  finally  prove  one  of  those 

*  who,  when  they  hear,  receive  the  word  with  joy ;  but,  having 
no  root,  for  a  while  believe,  and  in  the  time  of  temptation  fall 
away  ?'  Surely,  this  life  is  a  state  of  trial  and  probation,  and 
as  surely  do  the  trial  and  probation  continue  to  the  end  of  life. 
Let  no  one,  therefore,  plume  himself  on  having  gained  a  victory 
which  entitles  him  to  lay  aside  the  weapons  of  his  warfare,  and 
retire  into  a  life  of  peaceful  security  and  inaction.  He  has  done 
much.  One  victory  gives  a  comfortable  hope  of  mqre,  and  every 
enemy  subdued  lessens  the  labor  of  his  future  conflicts ;  but  let 
him  not  suppose  that  his  opponents  are  altogether  destroyed.  In 
a  moment  of  fancied  security,  they  may  steal  upon  his  repose ; 
their  attacks  may  be  met  by  an  unarmed  soldier  fatally  sleeping 
on  his  post,  and  he  may  fall  an  easy  conquest  in  consequence  of 
his  dreadful  mistake  of  supposing  there  was  peace  when  there 
was  no  peace." 

This  extract  almost  betrays  a  struggle  in  Mr.  Milnor's  mind. 
It  seems  as  if  you  could  see,  under  his  words,  a  concealed  effort 
to  justify  to  himself  his  cherished  dislike  of  Calvinism,  while  at 
the  same  time,  he  is  seeking  for  something  on  which  he  could 
rest  as  a  rational  view  of  the  Gospel.  It  is  not  our  province, 
even  were  it  our  wish,  to  defend  Calvinism ;  but  were  a  Calvin- 
ist  to  do  so,  in  reply  to  the  argument  of  the  above  extract,  it  is 
easy  to  see  he  would  proceed  by  showing  that  the  writer  does 
not  accurately  represent  the  theory  which  he  opposes ;  that  he 


106  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

is,  apparently,  biassed  by  liis  feelings ;  and  that  in  most,  if  not 
all  of  the  defensible  points  of  his  argument,  he  and  the  Calvinist 
might  not,  after  all,  find  it  so  difficult  to  agree.  The  extract 
shows  a  progress  towards  the  Gospel,  with  no  slight  mixture  still 
remaining  both  of  an  unevangelical  spirit  and  of  an  unevangeli- 
cal  creed. 

The  next  extract  from  his  diary  will  exhibit  a  similar  state 
of  mind  on  the  subject  of  the  Sabbath — an  evidently  growing 
reverence  for  the  institution,  and  yet,  as  evidently,  a  lingering 
dread  of  running  into  an  over-rigid  and  austere  mode  of  observ- 
ing the  day. 

"  Sunday,  16th  Sept.,  1810,  A.  M.— The  return  of  this  day  of 
devotion  and  rest  is  grateful  to  my  feelings.  The  abstraction, 
for  a  time,  from  the  pursuits  and  cares  of  business ;  >  the  leisure 
for  contemplating  the  character  and  perfections  of  the  Most 
High,  and  the  opportunity  for  humble  endeavors  to  offer  accept- 
able worship  in  sanctuaries  dedicated  to  his  service  ;  for  perusing 
the  oracles  of  a  divine  and  infallible  revelation ;  for  reflection  on 
past  errors  and  offences,  and  for  using  the  means  of  future  cau- 
tion and  improvement  which  the  season  furnishes,  as  well  in 
silent  meditation  as  in  an  attendance  on  the  advices  of  those 
appointed  to  minister  in  holy  things,  all  contribijte  to  render  this 
a  blessed  holiday. 

"Alas,  how  is  it  abused  by  the  inconsiderate  and  thought- 
less !  How  have  I  abused  it !  Let  me  endeavor,  in  this  respect, 
to  '  sin  no  more.'  Let  me,  0  God,  reverence  this  day  as  I  ought, 
but  preserve  me  from  those  errors  of  superstition,  or  fanaticism, 
which  would  exclude  from  its  enjoyments  the  delights  of  social 
converse  and  innocent  association  with  the  friendly  circle.  Let 
revelry  and  intemperance  be  kept  far  away  ;  let  no  trifling  occa- 
sion induce  an  omission  of  attendance  at  the  house  of  prayer ; 
let  a  season  for  private  reading  and  meditation  be  afforded,  but 
let  the  heart  remain  open  for  the  cheering  emotions  of  friendship 
and  regard  to  those  we  love,  and  let  not  a  narrow  and  contracted 
disposition  be  induced  by  a  mistaken  apprehension  of  the  true 
duties  of  thine  holy  religion.  Next  to  thee,  we  are  taught  by 
the  lessons  of  a  blessed  Saviour,  to  '  love  our  neighbor  as  our- 
selves.'    May  we  rightly  appreciate  this  teaching  as  calling  for 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  107 

the  performance  of  the  duties  of  our  various  allotments  in  life, 
'  visiting  the  widow  and  the  fatherless  in  their  affliction,  and 
keeping  ourselves  unspotted' — not  removing — *  from  the  world.' " 

This  is  the  first  of  Mr.  Milnor's  recorded  prayers  ;  and  it  is 
indeed  the  prayer  of  a  beginner :  not  so  much  a  supplication  for 
grace  to  keep  the  Sabbath  holy,  as  a  petition  to  be  preserved  from 
keeping  it  too  rigidly.  0  how  was  he  struggling  in  the  dark ! 
laboring  for  a  better  life,  yet  laboring  in  bondage,  with  little  or 
nothing  of  the  freedom  of  a  son ;  the  Spirit,  it  may  be,  teaching 
him,  but  leading  to  success  at  last,  through  the  suffering  of  fail- 
ure at  first. 

Sunday,  Oct.  7,  1810,  gives  us  the  last  of  the  "  annotations" 
which  Mr.  Milnor  made  on  the  sermons  preached  at  St.  James' 
before  his  election  to  Congress,  and  the  consequent  unfavorable 
change  in  his  habits  of  spending  the  Lord's  day,  which  have 
already  been  noticed.  His  principal  notes  that  day  were  on  a 
sermon  by  Bishop  White,  upon  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son ;  a 
sermon,  which  apparently  struck  him  with  much  force,  and  which 
he  wrote  out  at  almost  its  full  length. 

The  change  just  mentioned,  in  his  habits  of  spending  the 
Sabbath,  has  been  termed  "unfavorable."  Such  we  must  admit 
it  to  have  been ;  for,  although  the  opening  of  his  congressional 
life  found  him  still  unevangelical  in  his  views  of  Christian  doc-  ■, 
trine  ;  in  feeling,  if  not  in  theory,  opposed  to  salvation  by  grace ; 
yet  is  it  past  dispute,  that  on  religious  subjects,  there  had  been 
progress  in  his  mind,  and  that  this  progress  was  distinctly  away 
from  that  loose  freethinking,  and  its  accompanying  enmity  against 
the  Grospel,  which  characterized  him  in  early  life.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  freer  and  more  liberal  notions  of  the  people  to  whom 
from  childhood  he  belonged.  With  those  notions  he  passed,  at 
the  time  of  his  marriage,  from  his  fellowship  with  the  Quakers, 
through  his  supposed  adoption  of  the  tenets  of  Universalism,  which 
was,  after  all,  but  another  name  with  him  for  real  scepticism  on 
the  subject  of  revelation,  into  an  outward  attendance  on  the  min- 
istry of  the  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal  churches.  Soon  after  he 
left  the  Quakers,  and  probably  under  the  influence  of  his  friend 
Bolton's  faithful  appeals,  examination  made  him,  in  his  rational 
understanding,  a  believer ;  though  it  left  him  still  amid  the  nat- 


108  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ural  wilderings  of  "an  evil  heart  of  unbelief."  But  as  years 
rolled  by,  and  as  he  approached  the  opening  of  his  congressional 
career,  it  is  too  plain  for  concealment,  that,  like  "the  scribe" 
whom  Christ  addressed,  he  was,  though  still  out  of  it,  yet  "  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  Grod."  Legal  practice  had  already  be- 
come distasteful ;  the  spirit  and  maxims  of  the  world  held  a  far 
less  undisputed  sway  over  his  mind ;  the  general  subject  of  relig- 
ion had  become  interesting  to  his  thoughts ;  he  was  evidently 
giving  it  much  reflection ;  the  cast  of  his  mind  had  even  grown 
theological ;  on  some  points  he  seemed  "  wiser  than  his  teachers  ;" 
and  what  is  more,  though  he  still  continued  to  fight  with  Calvin- 
ism, and  was  by  no  means  evangelical  in  all  his  doctrines,  yet 
his  prejudices  against  stricter  views  were  much  softened,  and  he 
could  listen  dispassionately,  and  with  some  satisfaction,  to  one 
of  the  leaders  among  that  little  band  of  despised  ones,  who  had 
already  begun  to  constitute  a  portion  of  our  church. 

This  may  probably  be  regarded  as  a  fair  view  of  his  religious 
progress  and  state  of  mind,  up  to  the  period  of  which  we  are  now 
speaking.  His  election  to  Congress  checked  that  progress,  though 
it  seems  not  materially  to  have  affected  this  state.  As  he  was,  at 
his  election  in  October,  1810,  such  he  appears  to  have  been,  at  the 
opening  of  his  third  Congressional  term,  in  October,  1812.  The 
mo^t  distinct  notices,  in  the  interim,  of  his  inner  being,  i^elate  to 
his  ever-growing  distaste  for  politics  and  for  legal  practice.  Let- 
ters, yet  to  be  examined,  are  strong  on  this  point,  and  show,  that 
if  he  had  not  become  a  Christian  indeed,  still,  he  was  not  likely 
to  have  remained  either  a  politician  in  his  pursuits,  or  a  lawyer 
in  his  practice. 

Passing  now,  with  these  remarks,  over  his  first  two  years  in 
Congress,  we  are  ready  for  an  advance  to  his  own  account  of  the 
grand  turning-point,  the  great  crisis  of  his  whole  life.  We  have 
viewed  him  in  every  important  light  in  which  his  natural  charac- 
ter needs  to  be  placed.  "We  have  traced  him  from  his  parentage  ; 
through  his  education ;  into  his  professional  studies ;  among  his 
social,  civil,  literary,  and  benevolent  relations  and  pursuits ;  and 
along  his  legal  and  his  political  career:  and,  amid  all  these,  we 
have  followed  him  through  that  darkly  winding  way  which  he 
tracked,  from  the  blank  wastes  of  scepticism,  through  secret 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  109 

strugglings  with  the  shadowy  forms  of  Universalism ;  through 
more  open,  manly,  and  intense  toils  among  the  records  and  the 
evidences  of  the  Bible  as  a  revelation ;  through  barren  years  of 
cold,  unproductive  belief,  and  of  unsatisfying,  unevangelical  the- 
ory ;  and  through  fierce  fightings  with  the  Genevan  giant  and  his 
offspring :  till  finally,  we  find  him — ^with  much  of  the  light  of 
truth  in  his  head,  and  that  light  apparently  beginning  to  beam 
downwards  into  his  heart — walking  earnestly,  and  standing, 
amid  raised  hopes  and  expectations,  "  not  far  from  the  kingdom 
of  God ;"  though,  as  yet,  wanting  that  one  thing,  without  which 
he  might  have  stood  at  the  gate  for  ever,  incapable  of  entering 
among  the  wonders  which  lie  within. 

What  this  one  thing  was,  he  soon  learned  by  the  manifest 
teachings  of  God ;  and  the  brief  account  which  he  gives  of  it, 
is  contained  in  his  diary,  once  more  resumed  when  he  had  taken 
his  final  leave  of  Washington  and  politics.  Writing  in  Philadel- 
phia, after  he  reached  home,  he  prefaces  this  account  with  a  few 
ordinary  particulars,  some  of  which  have  already  been  noticed, 
and  others  of  which,  as  they  belong  to  this  period  in  the  history 
of  his  religious  life,  may  be  here  introduced.  Under  date  of 
March  25,  1813,  he  says, 

"  In  my  relation  as  a  vestryman  of  the  United  Episcopal 
churches  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  I  was  considerably  engaged 
in  the  secular  affairs  of  the  parish.  I  also  served  as  a  lay  dele- 
gate in  the  (Pennsylvania)  State  Convention  of  1811;  and  in 
May  of  that  year  was  sent,  in  the  same  capacity,  to  the  "  Trien- 
nial" (or  General)  "  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  New 
Haven." 

On  his  way  to  New  Haven,  he  spent  a  Sunday  in  New  York, 
where  he  met  and  had  a  pleasant  interview  with  Dr.  Hobart, 
whom,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  written  in  New  Haven,  he  styles 
"  one  of  my  earliest  and  most  intimate  friends."  Dr.  Hobart  was 
then  Bishop  elect  of  the  diocese  of  New  York.  Dr.  Wm.  H. 
Milnor  says,  in  his  "  Recollections,"  "  They  had  been  school- 
boys together."  When  they  met  in  New  York,  "  how  little  did 
either  of  them  think  of  the  relations  which  they  would  bear  to- 
wards each  other  in  a,fter-years." 


110  MEMOIR  OF   DR.   MILNOR. 


SECTION  II. 


"We  proceed  now  with  Mr.  Milnor's  account  of  the  change 
which  gave  a  new  course  and  color  to  his  whole  life.  Writing 
still,  as  in  former  extracts,  under  date  of  March  25,  1813,  he 
says,  .,  _ 

"During  the  past  fall  and  winter,"  that  is,  through  the 
whole  of  his  last  session  in  Congress,  "  the  interesting  concerns 
of  religion  pressed  themselves  upon  me  with  renewed  force.  The 
immense  importance  of  the  soul's  salvation ;  the  inefiicacy  of 
mere  human  exertion  in  effecting  it ;  the  abominable  nature  of 
sin ;  my  own  character  as  a  sinner ;  the  riches  of  grace  in  Christ 
Jesus ;  and  the  necessity  of  embracing  his  precious  merits,  as 
alone  calculated  to  redeem  me  from  hell,  renovate  my  nature, 
and  fit  me  for  '  an  inheritance  among  the  saints  in  light ' — all 
these  considerations  agitated  my  feelings  for  many  weeks  in  their 
successive  operations,  until,  by  Grod's  grace,  I  experienced  some 
sense  of  his  pardoning  mercy,  and  was  made  willing  to  assume 
his  yoke.  '  r-^ 

"My  friend  Thomas  Bradford,  Jr.,  being  at  the  same  time 
engaged  in  similar  exercises,  we  exchanged  sundry  letters,  which 
I  have  thought  proper  to  transcribe,  as  containing  a  faithful 
record  of  my  spiritual  engagements  during  the  time  alluded  to, 
and  of  the  nature  and  result  of  my  religious  experience." 

Such  is  the  '^ brief  account"  of  his  change,  referred  to  near 
the  close  of  the  previous  section.  He  wrote  contemporaneous 
letters  to  his  wife,  and  to  a  few  others,  full  of  the  same  theme ; 
and  they  may  all  be  taken,  with  those  to  his  friend  Bradford, 
as  containing  his  more  prolonged,  though  still  informal  account 
of  the  process  so  briefly  sketched  in  the  above  extract  from  his 
diary.  A  few  connected  incidents,  however,  of  peculiar  interest, 
may  well  be  allowed  to  introduce  such  extracts  as  it  m:ay  be 
necessary  to  make  from  the  series. 

In  his  letters  to  his  wife,  during  the  winter  of  1812,  his 
second  session  in  Congress,  he  makes  repeated  reference  to  the 
sudden  and  strange  neglect  of  his  friend  Bradford,  with  whom  he 
had  been  in  habits  of  most  intimate  correspondence  as  a  political 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  Ill 

associate,  but  from  whom  he  had  all  at  once  ceased  to  receive 
any  letters.  He  wondered  and  was  offended  at  the  silence,  and 
determined  to  write  him  no  more  till  its  cause  should  be  ex- 
plained, and  the  correspondence  be  resumed  by  his  friend.  That 
cause,  he  soon  after  learned,  was  his  friend's  decided  conversion. 
The  suspension  of  their  correspondence,  however,  continued  till 
after  Mr.  Milnor's  third  and  last  departure  for  Washington.  For 
substance,  the  further  account  of  the  introductory  incidents  is 
from  Mr.  Bradford's  "  Reminiscences." 

In  a  season  of  affliction,  during  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Bradford 
was  made  more  reflective  and  considerate  than  it  had  been  his 
wont  to  be ;  and  the  consequence  was,  the  decided  change  of 
which  we  have  spokien,  in  his  whole  character  and  course  of  life. 
For  his  own  comfort,  he  found  it  necessary  to  withdraw  from  all 
intimate  friendships  and  associations  of  a  worldly  nature.  But 
when  he  came  to  the  point  of  giving  up  the  society  of  his  friend 
Milnor,  he  found  it  the  severest  of  duties.  He  says  that  friend 
was  as  closely  knit  to  him  as  was  ever  the  soul  of  Jonathan  to 
that  of  David.  Nevertheless,  he  resolved  on  the  sacrifice :  their 
correspondence  ceased ;  and  when  Mr.  Milnor  was  in  Philadelphia, 
even  their  personal  interviews  became  less  frequent.  Mrs.  Brad- 
ford, by  birth  and  education  an  Episcopalian,  and  up  to  the  pe- 
riod of  their  domestic  affliction,  an  essentially  worldly  lady,  sym- 
pathized with  her  husband  in  his  change, .  and  thenceforward 
became  a  devoted  Christian. 

In  this -state  of  their  relations,  and  just  before  the  opening  of 
his  third  session  in  Congress,  Mr.  Milnor  called  on  his  old  friends, 
to  give  them  his  farewell.  He  found  Mr.  Bradford  in  his  office, 
and  on  inquiring  for  Mrs,  Bradford,  was  shown  into  the  parlor; 
whence,  after  saying  his  adieus,  he  returned  to  his  friend. 
"Why,"  said  he,  "you  have  made  your  wife  a-Calvinist.  I 
found  her  reading  Scott's  Force  of  Truth.  J  don't  relish  your 
spoiling  a  good  Episcopalian.  You  Presbyterians  are  always 
talking  about  Paul,  Paul.  You  never  talk  of  what  the  Gospel 
says,  but  always  of  what  Paul  says."  His  friend  made  no  reply : 
they  exchanged  their  farewells ;  and  Mr.  Milnor  was  soon  again 
in  Congress,  engrossed,  as  Mr.  Bradford  supposed,  with  his  usual 
zeal,  in  the  politics  and  the  pleasures  of  the  capital. 


112  y  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Meanwhile,  the  short  session  was  passing  rapidly  away. 
Early  in  January,  1813,  Mr.  Bradford  was  absent  from  Phila- 
delphia, having  received  no  letter  from  his  friend,  and  not  caring 
to  receive  any,  as  he  could  look  for  nothing  but  the  usual  budget 
about  politics,  or  the  customary  triflings  about  fashion,  of  both 
which  his  soul  had  grown  weary.  Upon  his  return  to  the  city, 
however,  on  the  25th  of  January,  he  found  on  his  table  an  evi- 
dently long  communication,  directed  in  the  well-known  hand  of 
his  friend.  Supposing  it  to  be  a  tedious  talk  about  political 
affairs,  his  first  impulse  was  not  to  open  it.  On  reflection,  how- 
ever, he  concluded  to  look  into  it.  He  did  so  ;  and,  to  his  won- 
der and  delight,  before  he  finished  the  first  page,  he  learned  that 
his  beloved  Milnor  was,  if  not  a  Christian  indeed,  yet  absorbed 
in  those  deep,  inward  stragglings  with  sin,  and  strivings  after 
Christ,  which  plainly  foretokened  that  the  day  of  his  deliverance 
"  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God,"  was  at  hand.  He  read  on,  and  soon  came  to  that  part  of 
the  letter  in  which  Mr.  Milnor  says,  "  In  the  expressive  language 
of  St.  Paul,  '  I  know  that  in  me,  that  is,  in  my  flesh,  dwelleth 
no  good  thing ;  for  to  will  is  present  with  me,  but  how  to  per- 
form that  which  is  good,  I  find  not.'  '  I  delight  in  the  law  of 
God,  after  the  inner  man ;  but  I  see  another  law  in  my  members 
warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bringing  me  into  cap- 
tivity to  the  law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  members.  0  wretched 
man  that  I  am ;  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?' 
I  embrace,  cordially,  and  pray  the  aids  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  do 
it  effectually,  the  answer  of  that  eminent  minister,  '  Thanks  be 
to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.' "  The  reading  of  this 
passage  constrained  Mr.  Bradford  to  break  out  in  joyous  rap- 
ture, exclaiming  to  his  wife,  "  Brother  Milnor  has  found  Paul  to 
be  as  precious  as  we  did." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Bradford  entered  eagerly  into 
the  reopened  correspondence ;  doubly  thankful  to  God  for  giving 
him  back  not  only  his  old  friend,  but  more,  his  now  dear  friend 
in  Christ ;  not  only  his  brother  in  the  law,  but  better,  his  brother 
beloved  in  the  Gospel. 

The  opening  of  this  interesting  correspondence  between  the 
two  friends  was,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  month 


RELiaiOUS  CHANGE.  113 

of  January.  But,  for  more  than  two  months  before  that  time, 
Mr.  Milnor's  mind  had  been  engrossed  with  the  subject  of  relig- 
ion as  a  personal  concern ;  and  he  had,  meanwhile,  written 
several  letters  to  his  wife,  which,  as  they  mark  the  opening  and' 
progress  of  his  views  and  feelings,  it  will  be  proper  to  examine 
before  taking  up  those  which  passed  between  himself  and  Mr. 
Bradford.  Extracts  from  the  former,  arranged  according  to  their 
dates,  are  all  that  need  be  given. 

To  Mrs.  Milnor. 

"Nov.  10,  1812."— The  letter  of  this  date  is  a  long  one  of 
two  full  sheets.  The  first  part  dwells  seriously  on  the  near  ap- 
proach of  the  time  when  he  was  cheerfully  to  lay  down  the  honors 
of  civil  and  political  life,  and  return  to  the  bosom  of  his  family ; 
and  on  the  deep  peril  to  all  his  hopes  and  prospects  as  a  Chris- 
tian man,  of  the  scenes  in  which  he  had  been  acting  his  part. 
It  is  a  sweet,  beautiful  letter.  The  following  are  some  of  its 
passages. 

"  You  will,  no  doubt,  be  surprised  at  the  seriousness  of  this 
letter.  But  my  mind  always  recurring,  at  some  seasons,  to 
religious  contemplations,  and  never,  I  hope,  wholly  without  relig- 
ious impressions,  has,  ever  since  I  left  home,  been  much  engaged 
in  the  duty  of  self-examination,  the  only  means  of  discovering 
the  truth  of  that  awful  confession,  which  we  so  often  make  with 
our  lips  without  realizing  in  our  hearts,  that  '  We  have  left  un- 
done those  things  which  we  ought  to  have  done;  and  we  have 
done  those  things  which  we  ought  not  to  have  done ;  and  there  is 
no  health  in  us.'  I  have  recurred  to  my  baptismal  vows,*  and 
find  much  more  care  necessary,  on  my  part,  in  their  future,  as 
there  has  been  much  neglect  in  their  past  observance ;  and  I  have 
had  deeper  impressions  than  heretofore  of  the  necessity  of  ac- 
quiring that  temper  of  mind,  and  of  pursuing  that  course  of 
conduct,  which  will  prepare  us  for  conforming  to  all  the  duties 
incumbent  on  us  as  members  of  the  Christian  church,  especially 
for  a  participation  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper ;  a  duty 

*  Having  been  educated  a  Quaker,  he  was  not  baptized  in  infancy,  but 
received  adult  baptism  after  his  connection  with  the  Episcopal  church. 

Mem.  Milnor.  O 


114  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

SO  strongly  enjoined,  that  whenever  my  mind  has  been  drawn  to 
the  subject,  I  have  felt  much  self-condemnation  for  having  so 
long  neglected  to  make  suitable  preparation  for  becoming  a  com- 
municant. This,  with  God's  help,  I  am  now  resolved  to  do. 
The  reception  of  this  ordinance,  I  am  persuaded,  is  '  our  bounden 
duty'  as  Christians.  If  we  are  not  prepared  for  it,  we  ought  to 
become  so ;  and  our  unpreparedness  will,  in  the  great  day  of 
account,  be  no  apology  for  the  omission.  It  is  one  of  the  means 
for  making  us  what  we  ought  to  be,  and  must  be,  if  we  purpose 
becoming  candidates  for  a  heavenly  inheritance.  If  some  ill- 
natured  or  misjudging  people  should  deride,  or  censure  our  con- 
formity to  what  they  cannot  deny  to  be  legitimate  and  moment- 
ous ceremonials  of  the  Christian  Church,  instituted  and  com- 
manded to  be  observed  by  our  Saviour  himself,  it  is  no  more  than 
has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  all  professors  of  religion,  in  a  greater  or 
less  degree ;  and  it  will  cease,  when  more  of  those  who  are  far 
removed  from  the  character  of  fanatics  and  enthusiasts,  have 
courage  to  avow  openly,  yet  not  with  vanity,  ostentation,  or 
illiberality  towards  others,  a  full  union  with  the  Church  in  all 
her  rites,  and  to  pursue  a  course  of  conduct  answerable  to  their 
Christian  profession,  yet  comporting  with  a  full  discharge  of  pro- 
fessional and  civil  duties,  a  cheerful  intercourse  with  virtuous 
society,  and  a  moderate  indulgence  in  the  innocent  relaxations 
and  amusements  of  life." 

Both  the  date  of  this  letter,  and  its  style  of  remark,  indicate 
its  place  at  the  very  commencement  of  his  new  experiences,  and 
show  that  it  was  written  while  his  mind  was  as  yet  embarrassed 
with  his  earlier  views  of  the  sacraments,  and  of  the  world — that 
he  was,  in  truth,  but  just  beginning  to  feel  his  way  out  of  dark- 
ness. The  next  extract  indicates,  among  other  things,  as  deep  a 
sensibility  to  the  perils  of  legal  practice,  as  the  last  had  expressed 
in  regard  to  those  oi  political  pursuits. 

"  Nov.  18,  1812. — I  intend,  so  far  as  I  can  without  unneces- 
sary singularity,  to  keep  myself  at  home,  where  I  find  a  satisfac- 
tiqn,  which  increases  by  habit,  in  the  labor  of  study,  and  the 
varieties  of  miscellaneous  reading,  writing,  and  serious  contem- 
plation. It  is  only  by  inuring  one's  self  to  retirement,  that  we 
can  learn  fully  to  appreciate  the  value  of  that  injunction,  '  Com- 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  116 

mune  with  your  own  heart,  and  in  your  chamber,  and  be  still.' 
I  am  far  from  being  an  advocate  for  entire  seclusion  from  society. 
It  is  a  scriptural  position,  that  religion  does  not  call  a  person  out 
of  the  world,  but  teaches  him  how  to  live  in  it.  Particular  situ- 
ations  and  pursuits,  however,  are  particularly  exceptionable  on 
account  of  being  attended  with  more  pain  to  a  tender  conscience, 
more  distraction,  more  occasions  of  irritation  than  others.  Such 
I  have  long  deemed  a  lawyer'' s  life.  He  is  often  obliged  to  advo- 
cate one  side,  when  his  own  understanding  and  sense  of  justice 
would,  if  freely  exercised,  induce  him  to  espouse  the  other.  He 
lives  in  a  crowd,  and  witnesses  a  scene  of  perpetual  strife.  Yet 
his  is  a  necessary  and  useful  occupation ;  may  be  pursued  by  an 
honest  man  with  advantage  to  the  community;  and  is  highly 
honorable  in  the  estimation  of  society.  As  a,  mode  of  life,  prefer- 
able to  others,  I  have  never,  from  the  beginning,  been  attached 
to  it.  I  now  sigh  for  retirement.  I  am  haunted  by  a  perpetual 
feeling  of  disgust  at  the  prospect  of  reentering  the  scene  of  con- 
tention, and  of  enduring  the  pertnesses  of  that  tribe  of  young 
competitors,  every  day  increasing  in  number  and  diminishing  in 
respectability  and  worth.  And  yet,  many  difficulties  lie  in  the 
way  of  any  scheme  for  retirement ;  and  this  has  prevented  my 
saying  more  to  you  in  conversation  on  the  plan  suggested  to  you ' 
in  my  letter  last  winter."  He  alludes  to  a  letter,  not  recovered, 
in  which  he  indulged  in  what  he  termed  "  a  Sunday  day-dream  ;''"' 
a  pleasant  imagining  of  rural  life,  devoted  to  an  easy  mingling  of 
literary  with  agricultural  pursuits,  and  adorned  with  the  fruits 
of  the  competence  which  he  had  acquired.  "  I  wish  not  idleness : 
it  is  the  parent  of  discontent,  and  of  many  vices.  My  desire  is 
for  a  situation  attended  with  tranquillity,  with  intervals  of  ab- 
straction from  general  intercourse,  and  with  consequent  opportu- 
nities for  varied  reading,  embracing  the  improvement  of  the  un- 
derstanding, the  innocent  amusement  of  occasional  leisure,  but, 
above  all,  what  I  am  at  times  awfully  afraid  of  neglecting  till 
it  be  too  late,  a  solid  preparation  for  eternity." 

"  My  next  leisure  shall  be  devoted  to  an  attempt  at  solving 
the  difficulty  so  pathetically  stated  in  your  letter,  where  you  say, 
*  I  know  not  what  to  do.'  Your  difficulty  is  precisely  that  which 
ought  to  be  felt  at  the  beginning  of  a  change  of  life.     Oh  how 


116  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

sensibly  do  I  feel  it  at  this  very  moment !  So  did  one  in  the 
earliest  days  of  the  Church,  when  he  exclaimed,  '  What  shall  I 
do  to  be  saved  ?'  I  wish  I  ^elt  more  experimentally  the  weight 
of  the  answer  which  was  given.  Read  the  Scriptures ;  pray 
humbly  and  fervently  ;  lay  aside  dependence  on  self;  embrace 
the  merits  of  a  crucified  Redeemer,  as  your  deliverer  from  sin ; 
rely  on  him  and  his  grace  for  humility,  contrition  of  soul  for  past' 
offences,  and  strength  to  maintain  resolutions  of  future  amend- 
ment ;  use  all  the  means  which  his  goodness  has  provided,  and 
which,  next  to  the  Gospel,  are  to  be  found  in  our  excellent  forms 
of  devotion,  and  in  the  ordinances  of  our  holy  religion. 

"  You  see  that  a  train  of  serious  thought,  which  I  believe  it 
to  be  my  duty  to  encourage,  has,  in  a  few  words,  given  you  the 
answer  which  I  meant  to  reserve  for  a  future  letter.  God  forbid, 
that  while  I  thus  attempt  to  instruct  you,  '  I  should  myself  be- 
come a  castaway.' " 

The  thoughtful  reader  will  mark  in  the  above  passages,  as 
striking  encouragements,  the  writer's  awful  fear  of  missing  a 
solid  preparation  for  eternity ;  his  deep  sense  of  his  own  ignor- 
ance of  the  way  of  life,  as  being  a  mere  beginner  in  the  search ; 
and  his  impressive  dread  of  becoming  himself  a  castaway,  while 
engaged  in  teaching  others  how  to  be  saved.  The  next  letter  has 
so  much  of  the  character  of  a  profession  of  faith,  that  it  may  well 
be  given  in  the  main  entire.  It  is  not  peculiarly  evangelical  in 
its  views ;  and  yet  it  embodies  much  sound  orthodoxy. 

"Washington,  Nov.  20,  1812. 

"  My  dear  Ellen- — I  do  not  wish  to  importune  you  with  too 
many  letters  of  so  serious  a  cast  as  those  I  have  lately  written 
to  you ;  but  I  obey  a  strong  sense  of  duty  in  pursuing  my  reflec- 
tions in  this  way,  until,  in  my  broken  and  unsatisfactory  man- 
ner, I  shall  have  laid  before  you  a  transcript  of  my  feelings  on 
the  subject  of  religion,  as  they  have  lately,  with  much  more 
force  than  usual,  weighed  upon  my  heart  and  understanding. 

"  I  believe  theologians  and  schoolmen  have  entrammelled  this 
interesting  theme  with  very  prejudicial  intricacies,  unintelligible 
distinctions,  and  strange  deductions ;  as  inconsistent  with  the 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel  as  with  the  manifest  goodness  and  be- 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  117 

nevolence  of  its  divine  Author.  Is  it  not  beyond  measure  aston- 
ishing, when  you  look  at  the  parables  and  other  instructive  les- 
sons of  our  Saviour,  wherein  he, so  fully  displays  the  purpose  of 
his  coming,  and  sets  forth  in  the  plainest  manner  the  universality 
of  his  mission,  the  love  which  prompted  it,  and  the  way  which  he 
has  set  open  to  all  for  a  restoration  to  the  divine  favor,  that  men 
should  bewilder  their  minds  in  the  mazes  of  doctrinal  discus- 
sion, to  find  out  terms,  and  phrases,  and  dogmas,  such  as  never 
proceeded  from  the  lips  of  our  heavenly  Teacher  ?  He  could  not 
have  intencjed  to  keep  back  any  part  of  the  whole  counsel  of 
God" — [Christ  evidently  did  intend  to  keep  back  some  things  till 
after  he  had  risen  from  the  dead,  and  had  thereby  completely 
laid  all  the  great  foundation  truths  of  the  Grospel] — "  and  yet  we 
discover,  in  all  that  he  said  and  taught,  not  a  word  about  predes- 
tination, election,  and  reprobation ;  involuntary  grace ;  the  impos- 
sibility of  falling  from  grace,  and  many  other  harsh  and  perplex- 
ing doctrines,  wliich  stagger  the  faith,  and  give  a  death-blow  to 
the  hopes  of  many  a  well-intentioned  person.  I  do  not  mean  to 
advance  an  illiberal  sentiment  with  respect  to  the  professors  of 
these  doctrines.  Many  of  them  are  among  the  most  sincere  and 
devout  friends  of  religion ;  nor  do  I  believe  that  at  the  judgment- 
day,  an  involuntary  error  in  respect  to  doctrines  not  vitally  im- 
portant in  their  nature,  will  be  to  any  a  cause  of  condemnation. 
The  sincerity  of  our  faith  and  repentance  will  be  tested  by  the 
amendment  of  our  lives  ;  and  we  shall  be  judged  according  to  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  whether  they  be  good  or  evil. 

"  The  theory  of  my  views  in  religion  is  very  simple,  and  is 
derived,  I  apprehend,  from  the  obvious  tenor  of  the  writings  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  I  would  set  forth  its  outline  in 
some  such  way  as  this : 

"  A  supreme,  self-existing,  all-powerful,  all- wise,  and  eternal 
Being  is  the  Creator  of  all  things,  and  sustains,  by  an  ever-active 
providence,  all  the  works  of  his  hands.  He  is  known  to  us  in 
these  characteristics  by  his  ivorks,  as  you  find  it  beautifully  and 
sublimely  expressed  by  David  in  the  nineteenth  psalm ;  a  part 
of  which  was  elegantly  paraphrased  by  Addison,  and  now  con- 
stitutes the  fifteenth  hymn"  (old  collection)  "in  our  Common 
Prayer  Book." 


■'118  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  But  it  is  in  the  Yolume  of  Inspiration  (Oh,  how  negligent 
have  you  and  I  been  in  its  perusal ! )  that  we  find  those  clear  dis- 
plays of  the  character  and  attributes  of  Grod,  which  must  make 
the  daring  atheist  tremble,  while  they  excite  the  love  and  adora- 
tion of  every  pious  believer.  By  this  sacred  book  we  are  taught, 
that  man  originally  proceeded*  from  the  hands  of  his  Creator 
pure  and  upright,  formed  after  the  image  of  God  himself,  but 
with  a  freedom  of  action  that  enabled  him  to  choose  between  good 
and  evil,  to  obey  or  to  disobey  the  divine  commands.  He  yielded 
to  the  temptations  of  the  evil  one,  disobeyed  an  express  injunc- 
tion of  his  Creator ;  and  thereby  '  brought  sin  into  the  world, 
and  death  by  sin.'  His  posterity  have  been  visited  with  the 
awful  consequences  of  their  first  parents'  departure  from  strict 
obedience ;  human  nature  became  depraved,  and  man  inclined  to 
evil  '  as  the  sparks  fly  upwards.'  '  He  lay  in  the  open  field  of 
ruin,  with  no  heart  to  pity  and  no  hand  to  save ;'  and  if  a  reme- 
dy had  not  been  found  in  the  mercy  of  that  God  whom  he  had 
offended,  he  must  have  been  irrecoverably  lost. 

"  But  his  heavenly  Father,  in  the  riches  of  his  goodness, 
ordered  otherwise.  He  formed  a  plan  of  redemption,  whereby 
^he  could  be  just,  and  yet  the  justifier  of  them  that  believe.' 
With  unparalleled  condescension,  the  God  of  universal  nature 
assumed  human  flesh,  came  down  from  the  realms  of  everlasting 
glory,  appeared  in  the  humblest  form  of  degradation,  suffered 
every  indignity  and  reproach  from  that  world  which  he  came  to 
save,  and  finally  laid  down  his  life  in  the  agonizing  death  of  the 
Cross.  By  this  astonishing  sacrifice,  he  atoned  for  man's  trans- 
gression, and  placed  it  in  the  power  of  every  hapless  victim  of  the 
fall  to  become  reconciled  to  his  Maker,  and  to  appease  divine 
justice  by  laying  hold  of  the  offers  of  pardon  and  reconciliation 
offered  in  the  Gospel."  [Man  does  not  appease  God  by  laying 
hold  on  his  mercy :  it  is  on  the  mercy  of  a  God  already  appeased 
in  Christ  Jesus,  that  he  lays  hold.]  "Faith  in  the  all-sufliciency 
of  this  atonement,  repentance  for  past  sins,  and  an  undeviating 
obedience  to  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  are  the  conditions  of 
salvation;  and  the  lip  of  truth  has  promised  the  assistance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  his  regenerating  work,  to  all  who  sincerely  desire  it. 
Perfection  is  unattainable  in  this  life" — [How  so,  if  "an  undevU 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  119 

ating  obedience"  be  a  condition  of  salvation  ?] — "  and  a  perpetual 
conflict  with  the  enemy  of  our  peace  and  our  own  rebellious  pas- 
sions must  be  maintained  by  the  most  virtuous,  A  divine  bless- 
ing, however,  is  promised  to  sincere  endeavors.  '  Ask,  and  ye  shall 
receive ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto 
you.'  Christ  earnestly  solicits  us  to  embrace  his  offers,  but  he 
does  not  compel  us.  His  Holy  Spirit  works  in  and  with  us  in  the 
regeneration  of  our  hearts,  and  strengthens  and  supports  us  in  our 
Christian  course ;  but  on  ourselves,  so  strengthened  and  supported, 
it  depends  to  maintain  a  constant  watchfulness,  'lest  we  turn 
aside  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left.'  He  who  is  'the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life,'  will  never  leave  us,  nor  forsake  us,  to  our  lives' 
end,  if  we  do  not  wander  from  him.  But  this,  the  infirmity  of 
our  nature  and  surrounding  temptations  constantly  incite  us  to 
do ;  and  hence  the  propriety  of  our  reiterated  penitential  acknow- 
ledgments of  having  '  erred  and  strayed  from  his  ways  like  lost 
sheep ;  of  having  left  undone  those  things  which  we  ought  to 
have  done ;  and  of  having  done  those  things  which  we  ought  not 
to  have  done :'  and  hence,  also,  our  constant  recourse,  in  the  same 
part  of  our  service,  to  the  Fountain  of  mercy  for  pardon  and  for- 
giveness, and  for  ability  to  live  '  hereafter  a  godly,  righteous,  and 
sober  life,  to  the  glory  of  God's  holy  name.'  Next  to  reading 
the  sacred  Scriptures  under  the  influence  of  the  grace  of  God's 
Holy  Spirit — the  only  true  guide  to  a  right  understanding  of  those 
divine  doctrines  and  precepts,  '  which  are  able  to  make  us  wise 
unto  salvation ' — our  aids  in  '  pressiiig  towards  the  mark  for  the 
prize  of  our  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,'  are  the  preach- 
ing of  the  word,  public  and  private  prayer,  (alas,  how  little  do 
we  know  of  the  latter  !)  and  the  ordinances  of  the  Church  ;  espe- 
cially the  holy  eucharist,  or  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper, 
instituted  by  our  Saviour  himself,  which  has  been  the  consolation 
of  the  pious  in  all  ages  since  its  establishment,  and  unto  which 
our  Church  constantly  entreats  us,  '  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  that  we  will  not  refuse  to  come,  being  so  lovingly  called  and 
bidden  thereto  by  God  himself.' 

"As  a  preparation  for  this  interesting  and  solemn  rite,  let  us 
attend  to  those  previous  duties  which  our  Church  in  the  com- 
munion-service directs. 


120  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  Although  we  have  sometimes  smiled  at  the  frequent  recur- 
rence of  the  fourth  psalm  in  our  Sunday  worship,  yet  we  cannot 
have  better  advice,  preparatory  to  going  to  the  table,  than  these 
verses  of  it  contain  : 

'■'■ '  Then  stand  in  awe  of  God's  commands, 

Flee  every  thing  that's  ill,  '  ^ 

Commune  in  private  with  your  hearts, 
And  bend  them  to  his  will. 

The  place  of  other  sacrifice 

Let  righteoQsuess  supply; 
And  let  your  hope,  securely  fixed, 

On  God  alone  rely.' 

"  And  the  consequence  to  the  practiser  of  the  precepts  in  the 
last  verse,  is  highly  encouraging: 

"  '  Then  down  in  peace  I'll  lay  my  head, 
And  take  my  needful  rest ; 
No  other  guard,  O  Lord,  I  crave. 
Of  thy  defence  possess'd.' 

"  That  we  may  one  day  be  less  involved  in  the  entanglements 
of  the  world,  and  more  capable  of  realizing  the  sweet  consola- 
tions of  a  religious  life,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  ever-affec- 
tionate partner  in  life  and  in  death, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

"Mrs.  E.  Milnor." 

In  its  introduction,  the  theology  of  this  letter  is  still  stoutly 
anti-Calvinistic.  Indeed,  the  writer  never  became  an  extreme 
Calvinist  in  his  creed,  though  he  did  cease  to  wage  his  strenuous 
warfare  against  the  system  of  Calvin ;  and  the  style  of  his  subse- 
quent preaching  was  so  highly  evangelical,  that  many  considered 
him,  though  no  controvertist,  yet  a  moderate  Calvinist  in  his 
views. 

In  the  remaining  part  of  the  letter,  the  theology  is  by  no 
means  erudite ;  and  yet,  for  one  who  had  been  all  his  life  a  fash- 
ionable man  of  the  world,  and  who  was  then  involved  in  the 
duties  of  a  political  station,  it  may  be  regarded  as  evincive  of  a 
degree  of  thought  and  reflection,  under  such  circumstances,  not 
altogether  common.     The  next  letter  exhibits  a  scene  not  often 


(  RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  121 

witnessed  amid  the  influences  of  political  life^a  praying  con- 
gressman, beginning  to  seek  his  Saviour,  with  a  readiness  to  take 
up  his  cross  and  follow  Christ. 

"  Nov.  21,  1812. — Whenever  accident  or  choice  throws  me 
into  solitude,  the  interesting  concerns  of  the  soul  and  of  a  future 
state  press  upon  my  thoughts  and  feelings  in  a  manner  calcu- 
lated to  produce  the  best  effects ;  whereas  much  forgetfulness  of 
these  things  is  always  the  result  of  extreme  engagedness  in  the 
perplexities  of  politics  and  business.  My  desire  is  to  become  so 
grounded  in  the  duties  of  faith  and  obedience,  and  so  strength- 
ened in  a  religious  course,  by  habitual  study  of  the  Bible,  and  a 
sincere  and  lively  performance  of  all  the  public  and  private,  ex- 
ternal and  internal  requirements  of  religion,  that  I  may  go  into 
the  world  and  take  a  moderate  share  in  its  affairs,  while  I  escape 
its  pollutions  and  vices.  I  speak  of  my  desire  only,  for  I  tremble 
at  the  prospect  of  my  weakness  and  deficiency  in  the  perform- 
ance. God  will  do  his  part,  but  I  have  little  confidence  in  my 
own  perseverance  and  fidelity  in  the  performance  of  mine.  A 
sad  experience  of  past  defections  alarms  me  for  the  future. 
From  infancy  to  the  present  moment,  a  sense  of  religious  obliga- 
tion, of  its  violation  in  my  conduct  through  life,  and  of  the  neces- 
sity of  a  change,  has  occasionally  impressed  me  very  forcibly, 
and  prompted  resolutions  of  amendment,  and  a  temporary  adhe- 
rence to  them.  But  too  much  mixture  in  general  society,  ex- 
cessive involvement  in  the  affairs  of  the  world,  and  neglect  of 
the  means  provided  in  the  Gospel  and  in  the  institutions  of  the 
Christian  Church,  have  conspired  with  the  infirmities  of  human 
nature,  and  induced  deplorable  relapses. 

"  Thanks  be  to  God,  a  proud  spirit  has  latterly  yielded 
to  one  of  lowly  prostration  at  the  footstool  of  divine  mercy.  I 
am  not  ashamed,  in  the  privacy  of  my  chamber,  to  bend  my 
knees  and  implore  a  blessing  on  my  feeble  endeavors ;  to  suppli- 
cate divine  assistance  in  the  duties  of  the  day,  and  to  implore 
a  heavenly  covering  of  protection  from  the  dangers  of  the  night ; 
and  with  the  aid  of  divine  grace,  I  will  not  be  ashamed  nor 
afraid  to  assume  the  cross,  and  make  a  public  profession  by  a 
nnion  with  the  Church  in  the  solemn  service  of  the  sacramental 
supper." 


122  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

From  the  close  of  this  extract,  as  well  as  from  other  expres- 
sions in  his  letters,  it  would  seem  that  he  had  been  the  subject 
of  a  strong  feeling  of  shame,  keeping  him  from  what  he  had 
regarded  as  the  weakness,  or  the  absurdity  of  conforming  to  the 
outward  rites  of  the  Church,  Perhaps  lingering  influences  from 
his  early  Quaker  education,  so  unfriendly  to  all  external  ordi- 
nances, may  have  kept  alive  this  strong  sentiment,  and  rendered 
what  is  to  others,  when  brought  to  Christ,  an  easy  duty,  to  him 
one  of  the  severest  of  trials. 

His  next  letter  is  chiefly  an  account  of  some  books  which  he 
had  purchased,  and  had  been  reading — The  Apostolical  Fathers, 
and  the  Life  of  Sir  William  Jones.  From  the  latter  he  quotes, 
as  specially  interesting  to  him,  "  Sir  "William's  translation  of  four 
beautiful  Persian  lines." 

"On  parent  knees,  a  naked  new-born  child, 
Weeping  thou  sat'st,  while  all  around  thee  smiled; 
So  live^  that,  sinking  in  thy  last  long  sleep, 
,  Calm  thou  may'st  smile,  while  all  around  thee  weep." 

At  this  period  he  was  evidently  much  engaged  in  reading, 
and  in  one  of  his  letters  describes  his  manner  of  reading  good 
books  to  good  account,  having  been  recently  much  delighted 
with  "the  inimitable,  saintlike  Cowper."  But  with  "the  best 
of  books "  he  was  most  concerned  to  make  himself  familiar.  As 
a  statesman,  devoutly  studying  his  Bible,  he  was,  to  the  best 
effect,  learning  how  to  do  his  country  good ;  while,  at  the  same 
time,  his  ovtn  soul  was  most  effectually  growing  "  wise  unto 
salvation."     He  writes,  undet  date  of 

"  Nov.  25,  1812. — I  mean  to  read  the  best  of  all  books,  accom- 
panied by  the  use  of  the  pen,  in  extracting  or  noting  remarkable 
passages ;  for  my  ignorance  of  its  blessed  contents  is  a  perpetual 
source  of  self-condemnation,  which  cannot  be  diminished  but  by 
'  letting  the  time  past  suffice  for  having  wrought  the  will  of  the 
Grentiles,'  and  by  endeavoring  in  future  to  find  some  other  use 
for  this  invaluable  book  than  that  of  making  its  blank  leaves  a 
record  of  family  blessings  and  family  misfortunes.  Join  heartily 
with  me,  my  best  friend,  in  so  good  a  purpose.  God  will  give 
the  aid  of  his  Holy  Spirit  in  our  sincere  obedience  to  his  own 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  123 

injunction  to  '  search  the  Scriptures,'  as  the  fountain  of  '  eternal 
life,'  and  as  t;he  oracles  '  which  testify  of  him.'  Then  may  we 
expect  to  find,  what 

'"too  many  do  not  know, 

That  Scripture  is  the  only  cure  of  woe. 

That  field  of  promise — how  it  flings  abroad 

Its  odor  o'er  the  Christian's  thorny  road  ! 

The  soul,  reposing  on  assured  relief,  \ 

Feels  herself  happy  amidst  all  her  grief, 

Forgets  her  labor  as  she  toils  along, 

Weeps  tears  of  joy,  and  bursts  into  a  song.'  " 

" Through  thy  commandments  I  get  understanding;  there- 
fore I  hate  all  evil  ways."  Such  was  the  experience  of  the 
Psalmist ;  and  that  of  Mr.  Milnor  was  coincident.  The  study 
of  the  Bible  gave  him  understanding,  especially  of  himself; 
therefore  he  hated  all  evil  ways,  particularly  those  of  his  own 
heart.  Accordingly,  in  the  next  letter  to  his  wife  which  comes 
under  our  notice,  he  goes  deeply  into  self-examination,  with 
special  reference  to  those  sins  and  faults  which  had  occasionally 
overcast,  with  a  fleetly  passing  cloud,  the  otherwise  clear  sun- 
shine of  their  domestic  happiness.  After  using,  with  a  faithful 
hand,  the  moral  probe  which  divine  truth  had  furnished  him,  he 
adds: 

"Dec.  7,  1812. — Forgive  me  for  recurring  to  these  unpleas- 
ant topics.  In  looking  forward  to  a  closer  union  with  our  God, 
in  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  body  and  blood  of  his  dear  Son, 
a  primary  duty  is  self-examination.  In  this  work,  a  review  of 
one's  past  life  is  indispensable ;  and,  as  I  write  now  under  the 
inspection  of  the  all-seeing  eye,  one  of  the  sins  which  I  have 
felt  it  peculiarly  necessary  to  confess,  and,  by  divine  grace,  to 
abandon,  has  been  that  of  not  duly  appreciating  his  blessings,  of 
giving  way  to  improper  feelings  induced  by  trivial  occurrences, 
of  not  curbing  a  temper  too  quickly  excited,  and  of  falling  into 
a  consequent  indulgence  of  language  and  conduct  from  which  a 
real  Christian  ought  ever  to  abstain." 

In  reply  to  the  inquiry  why  he  pressed  this  subject  upon  his 
wife  as  well  as  upon  himself,  he  adds,  "  Because  I  wish  to  make 
you  the  depositary  of  all  my  thoughts ;  because  I  wish  you  to 
begin  with  me  a  new  life ;  and  because  a  sense  of  mutual  folly, 


124  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

and  united  resolutions  of  future  amendment,  are  necessary  to 
that  happy  passage  through  the  residue  of  our  span  of  life,  which 
I  have  a  confident  persuasion  Grod  will  afford  us,  if,  by  upright- 
ness of  heart  and  holiness  of  life,  we  merit  it  at  his  hands.  Do 
not  misunderstand  me  in  the  use  of  this  term,  '■merits  I  am 
more  and  more  convinced,"  [we  have  seen  the  reason  why  he 
needed  to  be  so,  in  his  acknowledged  "mischievous  conceit  of  the 
merit  of  works,"]  "as  I  give  the  important  subject  of  religion 
deeper  and  more  solid  consideration,  that  our  performances  are 
no  otherwise  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God  than  as  they  are 
produced  by  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel ;  and  that,  with  respect  to 
our  ultimate  hopes  of  eternal  happiness,  these  hopes  are  worse 
than  vain,  if  they  have  any  other  ground  to  rest  upon  than  the 
atonement  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  whose  all-sufficient  merits 
have  given  that  satisfaction  to  offended  justice,  which  our  im- 
perfect obedience  never  could  have  done." 

On  the  day  next  after  the  date  of  the  last  extract,  Mr.  Milnor 
wrote  to  Bishop  White  a  statement  of  his  views  touching  the 
Lord's  supper,  and  proposed  to  become  a  communicant  so  soon 
as  propriety  and  the  good  bishop's  consent  would  permit.  But 
as  those  views  are  identical  with  what  we  find  in  the  letters  to 
his  wife,  extracts  are  needless. 

Perhaps,  however,  the  reader  will  be  surprised  to  learn,  that 
in  the  evening  of  the  very  day  on  which  he  thus  wrote  to  his 
bishop,  he  attended  a  ball.  But  it  should  be  remembered,  that 
he  was  not  yet  wholly  in  the  light  on  the  subject  of  his  former 
worldly  amusements,  although  he  had  light  enough  to  make  him 
go  reluctantly,  and  only  in  obedience  to  what  he  supposed  a  call 
of  duty.  "  It  was  the  ball  given  by  naval  officers  to  Captain 
Hull  and  others  then  in  Washington  ;  and  his  position  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  naval  committee,  seemed  to  render  it  necessary  that 
he  should  attend  and  participate  in  the  compliment.  He  went 
late,  came  away  early,  and  enjoyed  little  satisfaction  in  his  reluc- 
tant compliance  with  the  call."  His  comments  on  what  he  saw 
further  illustrate  the  state  of  his  feelings,  and  show  that,  if  his 
views  of  Christian  duty  were  not  yet  perfectly  clear,  at  least  the 
tendency  of  his  religious  tastes  was  in  the  direction  of  what  is 
thoroughly  right. 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  125 

"  The  crowd  was  great,  and  no  Parisian  assembly  of  equal 
numbers  ever  exhibited  a  greater  proportion  of  extravagantly 
painted  women.     The  people  of  this  place 

"  '  Still  sacrifice  to  dress,  till  household  joys 

And  comforts  cease.     Dress  drains  their  cellars  dry, 
And  keeps  their  larders  lean ;  puts  out  their  fires  • 
And  introduces  hunger,  frost,  and  woe, 
Where  peace  and  hospitality  might  reign.' 

Never  was  satire  more  just  than  this  of  Cowper,  applied  to  the 
people  of  this  place,  clerks  and  others,  depending  on  the  pub- 
lic for  support,  and  receiving  salaries  abundant  for  domestic  com- 
fort, but  insufficient  for  the  purposes  of  extravagance  and  show. 
Every  deprivation  is  submitted  to  in  private,  in  order  to  be  able 
to  mingle,  with  some  display  of  brilliancy,  in  the  fashionable 
throng.  Happy  would  it  be  for  their  infant  families,  if  they  bet- 
ter accommodated  themselves  to  their  situation  in  life,  and  if 
they  could  be  convinced  before  they  verify,  in  their  own  experi- 
ence, how  truly  the  same  delightful  moralist  describes  the  nature 
and  end  of  these  amusements : 

"  '  The  rout  is  Folly's  circle,  which  she  draws 
With  magic  wand.     So  potent  is  the  spell. 
That  none,  decoyed  into  that  fatal  ring — 
Unless  by  Heaven's  peculiar  grace — escape. 
There  we  grow  early  gray,  but  never  wise ; 
There,  form  connections,  but  acquire  no  friend ; 
Solicit  pleasure,  hopeless  of  success ; 
Waste  youth  in  occupations  only  fit 
For  second  childhood,  and  devote  old  age 
To  sports  which  only  childhood  could  excuse. 
They  are  the  happiest  who  dissemble  best 
Their  weariness ;  and  they  the  most  polite, 
Who  squander  time  and  treasure  with  a  smile.' 

"  I  believe  I  did  not  play  my  part  so  well  as  to  dissemble  mi/ 
weariness ;  but  I  think  that,  with  a  view  of  so  much  frippery 
and  folly,  I  gained  one  advantage,  and  that  is,  a  confirmation  of 
my  resolution  to  mix  as  little  as  I  can  in  these  extensive  scenes 
of  gayety,  and  to  cherish  the  society  of  a  few  chosen  friends.  I 
am  not  satisfied  with  myself  for  having  done  otherwise  in  this 
instance ;  but  I  hope  my  heart  is  free  from  the  influence  of  any 
of  the  poisons  of  this  pernicious,  unsatisfactory  intercourse." 


126  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

His  letter  of  December  11,  1812,  contains,  among  other 
things,  a  beautiful  little  essay  on  "  the  golden  mean,"  as  occu- 
pied by  the  real  Christian,  between  the  hermit,  the  monk,  and  the 
recluse  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  dissipated  rake  and  the  indis- 
criminate follower  of  pleasure  on  the  other.  In  composition,  it  is 
uncommonly  elegant ;  but  in  thought,  perhaps,  it  still  finds  the 
golden  mean  somewhat  too  far  from  the  extreme  of  the  recluse, 
and  proportionally  too  near  that  of  the  devotee  to  pleasure — a 
mean  somewhat  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  middle. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  he  had  received  a  kind  letter  from 
Bishop  White,  encouraging  him  to  visit  Philadelphia,  with  a  view 
to  communion  on  the  25th  of  the  month.  He  determined  to  ac- 
cept the  invitation ;  and  so  anxious  was  he  that  his  wife  should 
accompany  him,  that  his  letters,  at  this  period,  are  full  of  the 
one  labor  of  persuading  her  to  the  duty.  The  thought  seems  to 
have  occurred  to  him,  that  possibly  she  might  be  influenced  to 
delay,  by  the  supposition  that  his  feelings  were  but  temporary 
excitement,  and  would  soon  pass  away  and  be  forgotten.  To 
meet  this  supposition,  he  wrote  as  follows : 

"  Dec.  16,  1812.-^-!  fear  you  little  relish  the  style  of  my  late 
letters,  and  that  you  probably  consider  it  the  result  of  a  mo- 
mentary depression  of  spirits,  arising  from  my  lonely  situation, 
and  my  dissatisfaction  with  public  life.  If  you  should  have 
entertained  such  an  idea,  I  hope  it  is  a  mistaken  one.  I  say 
'  hope,''  for  God  knows,  considering  the  opportunities  which  I 
have  had  for  religious  improvement,  and  the  unquestionable 
goodness  of  my  heavenly  Benefactor,  in  the  unceasing  tender  of 
the  aids  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  through  the  medium  of  the  Gospel 
and  other  appointed  channels  of  grace  ;  considering  also  the  many 
secret  purposes  of  a  better  life  which  I  have  heretofore  unavail- 
ingly  formed,  and  the  continual  deviations  to  which  I  am  daily 
yielding  in  thought,  word,  and  action,  that  I  dare  not  too  confi- 
dently anticipate  a  firm  and  undaunted  perseverance  in  a  relig- 
ious course.  As  to  my  retired  situation,  it  need  not  be  so  if  I 
desired  otherwise  ;  for  a  man  here  has  only  to  put  himself  in  the 
way  of  fashionable  dissipation,  and  he  would  be  engaged  in  it 
almost  every  day.  I  avoid  it  as  much  as  a  decent  conformity  to 
custom  \yill  admit,  both  from  a  present  sense  of  duty,  and  from 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  127 

a  feeling  of  dislike  to  it,  which  every  day  increases.  As  to  dis- 
satisfaction with  public  life,  I  plead  guilty  to  the  charge ;  but 
this  mode  of  life  does  not  depress  my  spirits,  because  the  period 
of  its  termination  is  so  near  at  hand.  No,  my  love,  the  reading 
of  the  Scriptures,  a  perusal  of  the  writings  of  good  men,  attend- 
ance upon  public  worship,  and  silent  meditation  and  reflection, 
have  long  ago  convinced  me  of  the  truths  of  our  holy  religion, 
and  of  the  necessity  of  our  observing  punctually  its  sacred 
ordinances." 

The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  devoted  to  his  usual  theme, 
urging  seriously  and  solemnly  on  Mrs.  Milnor  the  duty  of  imme- 
diate preparation  for  the  Lord's  supper. 

The  business  of  Congress,  however,  soon  became  so  urgent 
that  he  was  unable  to  visit  Philadelphia  in  time  for  communion 
on  the  Christmas  festival.  He  felt  the  disappointment  severely, 
but  without  a  murmur ;  and  it  may,  perhaps,  be  regardied  as  a 
kindly  wise  providence,  that  kept  him  yet  a  while  in  Washing- 
ton, amid  the  dealings  of  God  in  the  secrecy  of  his  chamber. 
For  it  is  almost  impossible  not  to  see  from  his  letters,  that  as  yet 
he  had  not  looked  deeply  enough  into  himself,  nor  felt  with  suffi- 
cient power  the  workings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  convincing  him  of 
sin,  and  throwing  him,  as  his  first  step,  not  on  outward  ordi- 
nances, however  seriously  prepared  for,  but  upon  Christ  alone  for 
pardon,  peace,  and  life.  Had  he  gone  to  Philadelphia  at  the 
time  proposed,  there  was  danger,  after  all,  of  his  resting  on  out- 
ward ordinances  as  the  way  to  Christ,  instead  of  finding^n  Christ, 
first,  the  life,  and  power,  and  significancy  of  all  subsequent 
ordinances. 

In  a  letter,  written  about  a  week  after  the  last  extract,  the 
truth  of  the  above  remarks  appears  to  be  confirmed.  Rising  with 
the  early  sun,  and  commencing  his  morning  walk  with  a  repining 
feeling  in  his  heart,  as  the  memory  of  his  recent  disappointment 
was  revived,  he  seems  to  have  been  led  into  higher  views  of  God, 
and  into  deeper  views  of  himself,  than  any  before  described. 

"  Dec  22,  1812. — It  is  now  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  I  have  just  returned  from  a  long,  solitary 
walk.  The  morning  is  unusually  serene  for  the  season,  the  roads 
dry,  and  every  thing  propitious  to  travelling  either  in  carriage  or 


128  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

on  foot.  I  could  not  help  repining  a  little,  though  I  know  it  was 
wrong,  at  the  untoward  circumstances  that  have  intervened  to 
prevent  the  execution  of  my  purpose  to  avail  myself  of  such 
pleasant  weather  for  my  journey  home.  Reflections  of  this  kind, 
however,  quickly  gave  way  to  contemplations  of  a  very  different 
character.  The  immensity  of  that  Being  who  formed  the  scenery 
around  me,  which  even  winter  had  not  robbed  of  its  charms  ;  his 
goodness,  in  making  such  rich  provision  for  his  creatures ;  his 
kind  providence,  in  preserving,  sustaining,  and  superintending 
all  the  works  of  his  hands  ;  and,  above  all,  his  unspeakable  love, 
in  the  redemption  from  eternal  death  of  a  rebellious  world,  that 
had,  by  sin,  forfeited  every  claim  to  his  favor,  broke  in  upon 
my  mind  with  unusual  force,  and  excited  a  rapturous  feeling  of 
thankful  gratitude,  which  I  am  unable  to  describe.  But  alas, 
when,  from  such  high-wrought,  glowing  contemplations,  my 
thoughts  were  turned  upon  myself,  how  different  the  sight  pre- 
sented to  the  mental  view :  a  poor,  frail  child  of  the  dust,  '  con- 
ceived in  sin,  and  shapen  in  iniquity  ;'  '  prone  to  sin  as  the  sparks 
fly  upwards ;'  and  daily  offending,  in  thought,  word,  and  action, 
the  glorious  Being  to  whom  my  reflections  had  ventured  to 
ascend :  endowed  with  reason,  blessed  with  the  light  of  revela- 
tion, furnished  with  all  '  the  means  of  grace,'  and  encouraged,  in 
the  use  of  them,  to  indulge  '  the  hope  of  glory ;'  yet  still  cleaving 
to  the  earth,  yielding  to  unsubdued  appetites,  the  victim  of  every 
surrounding  temptation,  and,  in  short,  a  rebel  against  the  sov- 
ereignty of  heaven.  Surely,  said  I  within  myself,  such  a  trans- 
gressor cannot  look  for  pardon  to  that  God  whom  he  has  offended ; 
he  cannot  claim  the  benefit  of  that  sacrifice  for  sin  which  he  has 
so  often  slighted ;  he  cannot  be  again  supplied  with  the  aids  of 
that  Holy  Spirit,  to  whom  he  '  has  done  despite,'  and  whom  he 
is  continually  grieving  by  his  sins.  These  harrowing  reflections 
were,  however,  relieved  by  suggestions  of  the  most  soothing  kind, 
derived  from  the  long-suffering  goodness  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
and  from  the  comforting  promises  held  forth  in  the  Gospel  of  his 
blessed  Son.  I  felt  new  force  and  beauty  in  the  penitential  con- 
fession at  the  beginning  of  our  service,  and  let  it  flow  from  my 
lips  with  heartfelt  sincerity  and  humility. 

"  Such  is  the  result  of  a  morning's  walk  in  Washington,     I 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  129 

came  into  my  chamber  with  humble  confidence  in  God,  but 
stripped  of  all  reliance  upon  myself;  being  firmly  persuaded, 
that  He  alone  can  fit  us  for  every  good  word  and  work,  and  that 
it  is  by  his  gracious  assistance  only  that  we  can  accomplish  our 
best  purposes,  or  persevere  to  the  end  in  a  course  of  living  well- 
pleasing  in  his  sight." 

How  plainly  does  this  passage  tell  of  the  strong  onward  move- 
ment of  the  divine  Spirit  in  his  work  of  new-creating  grace.  How 
does  it  show  the  great  character  of  God  rising  on  the  view  of 
his  servant  with  more  power  than  a  universe  of  splendors ;  and 
influxes  therefrom,  pouring  in  as  from  a  full-coming  tide  of  bless- 
edness ;  and  then  the  soul,  driven  down  from  her  unwonted  ele- 
vation, into  deep  inward  searchings ;  self,  detected  as  a  rebel 
against  the  divine  sovereignty ;  and  the  sinner  stripped,  as  by 
an  almighty  hand,  of  all  self-confidence !  It  is  true,  the  refer- 
ences to  Christ  are  yet  but  incidental.  He  occupies  not  the  fore- 
ground of  the  view.  The  chief  objects  which  fill  the  field  of 
vision,  are,  God  in  his  glory,  stirring  a  heart  that  yearns  to  bo 
reconciled ;  and  the  sinner  in  his  ruin,  knowing  no  salvation  but 
in  that  God  upon  whom  he  has  been  looking.  But  then,  glimpses 
at  least  of  Christ  are  had,  as  though  the  Cross  were  in  sight,  how- 
ever dim  in  the  distance ;  and  light  from  the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness is  filling  the  soul's  firmament,  as  if  that  Sun  were  himself 
about  to  mount  above  his  horizon. 

As  might  be  expected,  his  next  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor  touch- 
ing the  subject  of  religion,  under  date  of  January  26,  1813,  ex- 
presses stronger  dislike  than  ever  both  of  the  politics  and  of  the 
fashions  of  Washington,  as  having  a  most  unfriendly  influence  on 
his  religious  progress,  and  keeping  him  from  those  full  comforts 
of  hope  in  Christ,  for  which  his  recent  experience  made  him  thirst 
with  all  the  earnestness  of  a  new-born  soul.  In  truth,  one  of  the 
greatest  wonders  presented  in  his  case,  is  the  fact,  that  such  a 
w^ork  as  that  in  his  heart,  was  begun  under  such  hostile  influ- 
ences, and  carried  on  against  such  accumulated  opposition  as  met 
him  in  the  circumstances  amid  which  he  was  placed.  But  that 
work  was  of  God,  and  not  of  man ;  and  the  divine  power  was  the 
more  manifest  in  his  behalf,  inasmuch  as  fi-om  every  other  quar- 
ter the  prospect  was  so  unusually,  so  absolutely  hopeless. 

Mem.  Milnor.  9 


130  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

From  the  remainder  of  this  letter  it  also  appears,  that  neither 
Gonscienee  nor  current  events  would  allow  him  to  remain  an  idle 
spectator  of  the  business  of  the  nation ;  and  that  he  was  even 
specially  active  in  his  place,  although  the  speeches  which  he  made 
at  this  time  in  the  House,  earnest  and  zealous  as  they  were,  were 
yet  in  a  manner  forced  out  of  him  against  the  longings  of  his 
-spirit  for  more  congenial  occupation.  Indeed,  this  letter  may  be 
regarded  as  a  dim  foreshadowing  of  a  change  of  profession,  so 
soon  as  the  hour  of  his  release  from  political  life  should  come. 

In  a  yet  later  letter,  this  foreshadowing  becomes  even  lumin- 
ously distinct ;  and  as  it  is  so  full  of  Christ,  the  Cross,  and  the 
work  of  the  Spirit,  and  gathers  up,  besides,  all  that  need  now  be 
said  about  his  change  of  profession,  it  may  well  be  given,  with 
slight  omissions,  entire. 

"Washington,  January  27,  1813. 

"My  dear  Ellen — I  wrote  you  yesterday,  and  know  not 
why  I  should  again  trouble  you  to-day ;  having  nothing  amusing 
to  communicate,  arid  having  already  sufficiently  fatigued  you  on 
subjects  in  which  you  cannot  feel  an  interest  until  your  mind  is 
awakened,  in  a  more  lively  manner  than  it  has  yet  been,  to  the 
realities  of  religion,  and  the  indispensable  necessity  of  receiving 
the  Saviour  through  the  exercise  of  faith  in  his  atonement,  and 
the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Suppose  not,  my 
beloved,  that  I  mean  unkindly  to  reproach  you.  It  would  ill  be- 
come me  to  do  so.  My  own  attainments  little  qualify  me  for  the 
duties  of  a  censor,  or  a  counsellor.  I  feel  too  forcibly,  as  applied 
to  myself,  the  weight  of  that  injunction,  to  take  the  beam  out  of 
one's  own  eye,  before  we  nicely  discern  the  mote  in  the  eye  of 
another.  I  think  I  see  the  better  way,  and  would  fain  walk  in  it. 
I  believe  my  happiness,  both  here  and  hereafter,  depends  on  my 
doing  so.  Natural  pride  has  so  far  been  brought  into  subjection  to 
the  Cross,  that  I  dare  humbly  venture,  before  I  close  my  eyelids, 
and  when  permitted  again  to  awake  from  the  death  of  sleep,  to 
address  my  thanksgivings  and  praises  to  the  great  Creator  and 
Preserver  of  my  existence,  confess  my  unworthiness  of  the  bless- 
ings with  which  I  am  favored,  implore  better  dispositions  for  his 
service,  and,  above  all,  solicit  an  interest  in  the  all-prevailing' 
intercessions  of  a  once  crucified,  but  now  risen  Redeemer. 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  131 

"  Yet,  though  a  rebellious  spirit  has,  I  trust,  through  God's 
grace,  been  subdued  within  me,  so  far  as  to  compel  me  to  repent 
in  dust  and  ashes  for  my  multiplied  transgressions,  and  to  seek 
divine  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  a  better  life,  I  see  futurity 
beset  with  a  thousand  difficulties.  I  know  not  how  I  can  avoid 
those  smaller  follies,  as  the  world  would  call  them,  arising  out 
of  the  manners  and  customs,  the  fashions  and  associations  of  a 
large  city ;  and  yet  conscience  tells  me,  in  a  voice  of  solemn 
warning,  many  of  them  must  be  abandoned.  Abstinence  from 
glaring  and  proffigate  wickedness,  which  a  regard  to  the  decen- 
cies of  life  and  to  personal  character  prevents  in  many  who  are 
destitute  of  a  principle  of  Christian  piety,  will  not  satisfy  the 
requisitions  of  the  Gospel.  Many  even  of  the  lawful  pleasures 
of  social  intercourse  must  be  abridged  in  their  frequency  and  de- 
gree ;  and  levity  and  thoughtlessness  must  more  frequently  give 
place  to  solid  reflection  and  seriousness  of  mind  and  deportment. 
In  this  respect,  I  solemnly  believe  it  is  indispensably  necessary 
to  assume  the  cross,  and  to  subject  natural  inclination  to  an  im- 
plicit obedience  to  the  precepts  and  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  How 
hard  the  task  is  to  the  beginner,  is  evident  to  me  from  my  own 
daily  struggles ;  and  it  was  evident  to  you,  when,  on  my  last 
visit,  I  gave  you  such  imperfect  testimony  to  my  stability  in  a 
course  of  practice  conformable  to  the  profession  which,  in  my 
preceding  letters,  I  had  avowed. 

"A  still  more  formidable  difficulty  lies  in  my  professional 
pursuits.  In  the  conduct  of  them  heretofore,  I  have  endeavored 
•to  maintain  fidelity  towards  my  clients,  and  integrity  towards 
all.  But  I  have  often  advocated  causes  against  which,  as  a 
judge,  I  would  have  pronounced;  and  sometimes  have  been 
obliged  to  make  myself  the  organ  of  the  passions  and  feelings  of 
others  in  a  way  that  it  would  not  be  possible  for  me  to  do  here- 
after, and  yet  preserve  that  consistency  of  character,  and  that 
peace  of  mind,  at  which  it  is  my  settled  purpose,  with  divine 
help,  to  aim.* 

*  And  yet  he  was  called,  by  eminence,  "  The  honest  lawyer ;"  and  thereon 
rise  reflections  which  it  were  well  for  every  man  to  entertain,  who  is  already 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  or  who  is  inquiring  if  that  practice  would 
be  safe  to  his  soul. 


132  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  On  what  to  determine,  I  am  utterly  at  a  loss.  I  wish  to  con- 
sult your  happiness  and  wishes,  and  the  welfare  of  our  dear  chil- 
dren, in  whatever  course  I  may  adopt.  But  I  think  their  chance 
of  respectability  and  happiness  will  not  be  much  increased,  by 
my  continuing  to  toil  in  a  dangerous  profession  to  acquire  for 
them  a  large  estate ;  nor  do  I  believe,  that  with  a  continuance  of 
unremitted  industry  on  my  part — in  the  present  state  of  business 
and  of  competition  for  profits,  with  the  loss  of  a  great  proportion 
of  my  share  in  business  during  my  engagements  in  public  life, 
and  with  the  feelings  which  I  shall  carry  back  when  I  resume 
it — if  I  were  ever  so  desirous  of  accumulation,  I  could  count 
upon  success.  I  am  persuaded,  however,  that  no  duty  towards 
our  beloved  children  requires  me  to  give  them  more  than,  if  they 
survive  me,  will  be  their  portion ;  and  that  I  shall  render  them  a 
better  service  by  giving  them  a  good  education,  and  endeavoring 
to  instil  into  their  minds  early  principles  of  piety,  than  if  I  could 
heap  upon  them  the  riches  of  Golconda  or  Peru. 

"  These  are  the  unpleasant  views  presented  to  my  mind  by 
the  prospect  of  entering  again  upon  my  former  track  of  business 
and  social  intercourse.  But  in  abandoning  the  former,  and  in 
some  degree  the  latter,  I  am  aware  that  deprivations  not  very 
pleasant  to  the  natural  feelings,  must  be  submitted  to ;  and  that 
there  is  still  very  great  difficulty  in  fixing  upon  some  other  occu- 
pation by  way  of  substitute.  Idleness  is  the  root  of  all  evil,  and 
I  do  not  mean  to  encounter  its  dangers.  If,  therefore,  I  quit  my 
present  business,  it  will  be  to  engage  in  some  other.  "What  that 
shall  be,  is  a  question  to  be  solved  before  an  abandonment  of  pres- 
ent occupation  takes  place.  A  small  farm  for  some  bodily  exer- 
cise, and  a  library  for  the  employment  of  the  mind,  together  with 
a  close  application  to  interests  of  much  more  importance  than 
all  the  perishing  concerns  of  this  world,  are  what  present  them- 
selves to  my  mind  as  the  most  likely  means  for  insuring  tran- 
quillity during  the  residue  of  our  stay  in  this  probationary  part 
of  our  existence,  and  a  title  to  happiness  when  called  to  our  final 
and  unchangeable  lot  in  the  world  to  come. 

"Ever  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE. 


SECTION  III. 


We  have  now  fully  reached  the  time  when  the  interesting 
correspondence  between  Mr.  Milnor  and  his  friend  Bradford  com- 
menced.  The  first  letter  in  that  correspondence,  Which  was  from 
Mr.  Milnor,  was  written  on  the  22d  of  January,  five  days  before 
the  date  of  this  last,  which  we  have  inserted,  to  his  wife.  This 
letter  to  his  wife,  therefore,  will  be  found  to  breathe  much  the 
same  feelings  with  those  which  pervade  his  first  to  Mr.  Bradford. 
Indeed,  it  must  be  evident  to  the  careful  reader,  that  ever  since 
his  "  long,  solitary  walk,"  on  the  fine  winter  morning  of  Decem- 
ber 22,,  which  he  began  with  repinings  at  his  recent  disappoint- 
ment, and  ended  with  such  enlarged  views  of  Grod  and  of  him- 
self, the  style  of  his  letters  to  his  wife  has  been  different  from 
that  of  his  previous  communications.  He  has  talked  less  of  the 
outward,  and  more  of  the  inward  things  of  the  Christian  life. 
His  main  themes  have  been,  sin  and  the  Saviour,  the  merits  of  the 
Cross  and  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  a  growing  weariness  of  the 
ways  of  the  world,  and  a  growing  conviction  of  the  necessity  of 
a  change  in  the  business  of  his  future  profession. 

Even  at  the  time,  however,  when  he  wrote  his  first  letter  to 
Mr.  Bradford,  although  he  may  be  considered  as  having  become 
"  a  new  creature  in  Christ,"  yet  his  religious  views  wanted  some- 
thing of  that  clearness  and  fulness  which  were  desirable,  and 
which  they  finally  reached.  A  few  other  letters  to  Mrs.  Milnor, 
written  after  the  27th  of  January,  contain  passages,  hereafter  to 
be  given,  which,  in  their  unusual  earnestness  for  her  conversion, 
will  furnish  most  convincing  evidence  of  the  growth  and  genu- 
ineness of  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  his  own  heart. 

"We  proceed,  now,  to  the  correspondence  with  Mr.  Bradford. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  publish  the  whole,  just  as  it  passed ; 
but  this  would  swell  too  largely  the  size  of  the  Memoir.  Al- 
though, therefore,  Mr.  Bradford's  letters  abound  in  remarkably 
clear  views  of  the  new-birth  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  the  course  of 
life  which  the  new-born  Christian  is  required  to  pursue,  yet,  with 
the  exception  of  one  or  two  passages,  they  will  be  reluctantly 
omitted ;  and  even  when  we  take  up  the  letters  of  his  correspond- 


134  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ent,  only  the  most  important  parts  of  those  of  Mr.  Milnor  him- 
self will  be  inserted.  Near  the  close  of  the  series,  Mr.  Milnor 
uses  the  following  language  : 

"  Forgive  me,  I  once  more  ask  it,  for  filling  my  letters  with 
so  much  of  myself.  But  I  judge  of  the  satisfaction  it  gives  you 
to  have  a  free  communication  of  the  course  of  my  religious  expe- 
rience, as  well  from  your  assurances  as  from  the  pleasure  which 
I  derive  from  your  less  verbose  and  more  comprehensive  commu- 
nications. Alas,  my  heart  has,  for  so  short  a  time,  savored,  as  it 
ought,  the  things  of  Grod,  and  is,  even  now,  so  '  troubled  about 
many  things '  which  ought  to  have  no  place  there,  that  you  must 
excuse  my  wanderings,  and  condescend — if  per  adventure  they 
may  be  found  at  all — to  seek,  amid  much  chaff,  for  the  few 
grains  of  wheat  which  I  have  endeavored  to  send  you." 

Our  object,  in  the  selection  about  to  be  made,  will  be  to 
gather  some  of  "  the  grains  of  wheat,"  not  because  they  lie 
"  amid  much  chaff,"  but  because  the  most  for  which  we  can  find 
room  will  be  those  more  precious  kernels  which  are  the  seeds  of 
his  spiritual  growth,  or  which  show  the  gradual  development  of 
his  ChrLstian  experience  and  character. 

To    Thomas    Bradford,  Jr. 

"Washington,  22d  Jan.,  1813. 
"  My  dear  Friend — Ever  since  my  return  to  this  place,  I 
have  contemplated  writing  you  a  long  letter,  but  have  been  pre- 
vented by  a  succession  of  engagements,  which  occupy  much  of 
my  time.  I  ought  not,  however,  in  candor  and  fair  dealing,  to 
deny  that  I  have  been  a  little  discouraged  from  recommencing  a 
correspondence  with  you,  by  the  abruptness  with  which  that  of  last 
year  terminated.  Yet,  I  neither  doubt  your  friendship,  nor  be- 
lieve that  you  doubt  mine ;  and  I  feel  as  if  a  more  intimate  and 
profitable  intercourse  than  ever  were  about  to  take  place  between 
us.  "We  have,  I  trust,  entered  on  a  course  in  which,  whatever 
may  be  the  difference  of  our  views  on  minor  points,  being  agreed 
in  the  grand  vi^ay-marks  of  our  journey,  and  designing,  by  God's 
help,  to  reach  the  same  destination,  we  may  travel  harmoniously 
together,  and  lend  one  another  a  helping-hand,  in  surmounting 
the  impediments  which  we  may  expect  to  find  in  our  way. 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  135 

"My  best  resolutions  are  frustrated,  or  interfered  with,  by 
surrounding  temptations,  and  I  seem  to  experience  increased 
occasion  for  the  penitent  acknowledgment  of  having  renewedly 
*  erred  and  strayed  from  God's  ways  like  a  lost  sheep ;'  of  having 
'  left  undone  those  things  which  I  ought  to  have  done,  and  done 
those  things  which  I  ought  not  to  have  done.'  Or,  in  the  expres- 
sive language  of  St.  Paul,  '  I  know  that  in  me,  that  is,  in  my 
flesh,  dwelleth  no  good  thing;  for  to  will  is  present  with  me, 
but  how  to  perform  that  which  is  good,  I  find  not.  I  delight  in 
the  law  of  God,  after  the  inner  man ;  but  I  see  another  law  in 
my  members  warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bringing 
me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin  which  is  in.jmy  members.  0 
wretched  man  that  I  am !  Who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body 
of  this  death  ?'  I  embrace  cordially,  and  pray  the  aids  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  do  it  effectually,  the  answer  of  that  eminent  min- 
ister of  (jrod :  '  Thanks  be  to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord."*  Let  us  look  to  Him,  as  '  the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith ;'  be  persuaded  that  '  other  foundation  hath  no  man  laid ;' 
rely  upon  his  all-sufiicient  atonement ;  receive  him  as  our  Prophet, 
Priest,  and  King ;  and  depend  upon  the  sanctifying  influences  of 
the  blessed  Spirit  to  prepare  us  for  maintaining  our  present  con- 
flicts with  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  and  for  obtaining 
ultimately  a  place  among  the  saints  in  glory.  Since  my  mind 
has  become  more  seriously  impressed,  experience  has  convinced 
me,  that  when  deep  conviction  of  sin  has  seized  upon  the  heart, 
when  penitence  and  prayer  have  become  its  daily  employment, 
and  the  soul  is  panting  after  righteousness,  worldly  engagements, 
both  of  business  and  of  pleasure,  slacken  and  impede  its  progress 
in  grace,  and  hourly  suggest  fearful  apprehensions  of  losing  all 
that  has  been  gained.  0  how  dreadful  is  the  thought,  that 
when  called  by  God's  Spirit  to  a  view  of  one's  lost,  undone  con- 
dition, when  encouraged  to  lay  hold  of  the  hope  set  before  us  in 
the  Gospel,  and  feeling  with  humility  and  thankfulness  some 
advancement  in  the  work  of  piety,  we  should  relapse  into  our 
first  estate.  Truly,  '  the  latter  end  of  such  is  worse  than  the 
beginning.'  God  preserve  you  and  me  from  such  an  event.  His 
power  alone  is  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 

"After  a  long  profession  of  religion,"  ( sacramental  communion 


136  MJIMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

in  the  Church  is  not  here  intended,)  "accompanied  by  vain  at- 
tempts to  accommodate  it  to  the  fashion  and  folly  of  the  world, 
it  has  pleased  God — in  the  midst  of  gayety  and  pleasure,  and  with- 
out that  pressure  of  calamity  which  is  so  often  made  the  means 
of  turning  the  thoughts  to  the  only  sure  Refuge,  and  while,  too, 
the  opportunity  of  public  waiting  upon  him  in  his  ordinances 
was,  in  a  great  measure,  denied — to  arrest  me  in  my  course,  con- 
vince me  of  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,  arraign  me  at  the 
bar  of  my  own  conscience  as  a  heinous  partaker  in  it,  and  then, 
in  mercy,  to  open  to  my  view  the  way  of  escape,  provided  1  no 
longer  neglected  the  great  salvation. 

"  By  a  singular  coincidence  it  has  happened,  that  without  a 
mutual  knowledge  of  the  fact,  you  and  I  have  been  similarly 
engaged.  To  whom,  therefore,  with  more  propriety  than  to  your- 
self could  I  impart  my  feelings  ?  Let  me  hear  from  you.  Dis- 
close fully  your  religious  views,  for  it  will  be  done  to  a  friend. 
Fellow-travellers  on  the  road  to  Zion,  I  rejoice  to  wish  you  '  God 
speed'  on  your  journey,  and  shall  not  cease  to  pray  for  strength 
to  accompany  you,  though  it  should  be — ^ haud passibus  mquis^ — 
at  an  unequal  pace.     Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Though  Mr.  Bradford's  part  of  the  correspondence  thus  opened 
must  necessarily  be  omitted,  yet  a  few  passages  from  his  first 
letter  will  be  given,  as  evincive  of  the  spirit  in  which  he  re- 
sponded to  the  feelings  of  his  friend. 

"Philadelphia,  January  26,  1813. 
"My  dear  Friend — Never  did  I  read  a  letter  with  more  de- 
light and  joy  than  yours,  received  yesterday.  I  had  been  absent 
from  the  city  for  ten  days,  and  just  returned  from  the  gayeties 
of  a  wedding  at  Dover,  with  a  mind  diseased  and  corrupted  by 
the  intercourse  into  which  I  had  been  obliged  to  enter  with  a  gay 
and  fashionable  world.  The  contents  of  your  letter  warmed  my 
soul,  and  enlivened  all  my  affections.  For,  my  dear  friend,  among 
the  crosses  which  I  foresaw  I  must  bear  in  my  Christian  course, 
was  that  of  separating,  in  a  great  degree,  from  you  and  many 
others  whose  pursuits  and  pleasures  were  different  from  those 
which  I  was  following.    The  goodness  of  God  in  awakening  your 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  137 

mind  to  a  sense  of  its  true  condition,  while  it  has  excited,  and 
should  continue  to  excite  in  you  a  holy  zeal  and  gratitude,  has 
produced  no  less  emotion  in  my  own  mind.  A  dear  friend,  in 
whose  society  I  have  ever  delighted,  and  with  whom  I  have  so 
often  controverted  points  of  religion,  when  we  were  both  stran- 
gers to  God,  has  been  taught  of  Him,  and  is  restored  to  me  in 
the  bonds  of  a  covenant,  which,  I  trust,  will  never  be  broken. 
How  delightful  is  that  friendship,  whose  basis  is  religion,  and 
whose  object  is  the  promotion  of  our  eternal  welfare.  Thanks  be 
to  God  for  restoring  to  me  one  so  beloved. 

"With  you,  I  am  every  day  constrained  to  bemoan  the  little 
progress  which  I  make  '  in  grace  and  the  knowledge  of  my  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,'  and  almost  to  fear  that  I  have  no  in- 
terest in  his  atoning  sacrifice ;  so  cold  and  lifeless,  so  hard  and 
flinty  is  my  poor  wicked  heart.  This  body  of  sin  weighs  me 
down  to  the  dust.  '  Take  from  me,  my  God,  this  heart  of  stone, 
and  give  me  a  heart  of  flesh.'  Truly,  my  friend,  St.  Paul  was 
never  more  correct  than  when  he  said,  '  The  carnal  mind  is  en- 
mity against  God;  for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God,  neither 
indeed  can  be.'  0  how  precious  does  the  bleeding  Lamb  of  God 
appear  to  a  soul,  sinking  under  the  conviction  of  its  guilt  and 
ill-desert;  and  how  all-attractive  and  endearing  are  the  promises 
of  this  blessed  Saviour :  '  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest ;'  '  Come,  buy  wine  and 
milk,  without  money  and  without  price.'  "What,  nothing  to  do 
to  obtain  this  great  salvation  ?  Nothing.  Not  a  rag  of  self- 
righteousness  will  be  accepted  here.  '  It  is  for  my  name's  sake,' 
saith  the  great  Jehovah,  'that  I  do  this  thing.'  How  constantly 
ought  we  to  pray,  '  For  thy  name's  sake,  0  Lord,  pardon  mine 
iniquity,  for  it  is  great.'  '  Examine  me,  0  Lord,  and  prove  me ; 
try  my  reins  and  my  heart.' 

"Persevere,  my  dear  friend,  in  beseeching  God  to  have  mercy 
on  you ;  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith ;  put  on  the  armor  of  the 
Christian  warrior,  for  we  have  to  contend  with  most  wicked  and 
powerful  enemies;  trust  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  he  will 
give  you  victory  over  them  all. 

"  How  pleasant  will  be  our  future  correspondence.  Leaving 
a  jarring  world  and  its  concerns  to  those  who  love  them  more,  we 


138-  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

will  tell  each  other  what  the  Lord  hath  done  for  our  souls,  how' 
we  travel  along  the  Christian  path,  what  new  beauties  strike  our 
view,  what  snares  and  perils  we  have  escaped,  what  trials  and  con- 
flicts we  have  endured,  and  what  crosses  we  have  borne.  Thus 
animating  and  counselling  each  other,  we  shall  find  an  epistolary 
intercourse  more  interesting  and  instructive  than  ever.  How  dif- 
ferent will  this  he  from  that  which  we  kept  up  for  a  part  of  the 
last  session.  Instead  of  the  affairs  of  this  world,  we  shall  con- 
verse about  a  world  higher  and  better  :  instead  of  '  Who  shall  rise 
to  honor  and  distinction  here  ?'  our  question  will  be,  '  How  shall 
we  attain  to  that  unfading  honor,  in  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest, 
reserved  for  the  people  of  God  ?'  But,  my  friend,  in  all  things  be 
watchful,  guarding  yourself  from  the  deceitfulness  of  your  own 
heart ;  for  saith  our  blessed  Lord,  '  Watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter 
into  temptation.'  The  terms  of  discipleship  are  plainly  proposed  to 
us  by  Him.  '  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  him- 
self, and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me.'  May  God  bless 
and  preserve  you,  my  dear  friend ;  and  may  we,  like  David  and 
Jonathan  of  old,  be  united  in  a  sure  covenant,  and  say,  that,  as  for 
others,  they  may  do  as  seemeth  meet  unto  them ;  but,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Joshua,  '  as  for  us  and  our  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord.' 
"  Write  to  me,  and  believe  me,  more  than  ever, 
"  Your  friend, 

«T.  BRADFORD,  JR." 
"  J.  MiLNOR,  Esq." 

'To  this  letter  Mr.  Milnor  replied  in  the  following,  among  other 
passages  of  his  second  letter,  dated, 

"Washington,  29th  Jan.,  1813. 
"  My  dear  Friend — Your  affectionate  letter  of  the  26th  has 
afforded  me  much  satisfaction  on  every  account  but  one.  I  fear 
I  am  to  iiifer  from  your  kind  expressions,  that  you  unduly  appre- 
ciate my  progress  in  religion,  and  that  I  have  myself  occasioned 
the  mistake  by  using  language  in  reference  to  the  state  of  my 
mind,  calculated  to  give  you  an  idea  of  its  subjection  to  the  influ- 
ence of  divine  grace  which  the  real  fact  does  not  warrant.  If  I 
have  done  so,  ascribe  it  to  any  cause  rather  than  a  deliberate 
intention  to  deceive  either  you  or  myself :  a  greater  than  either, 
I  know  I  cannot  deceive ;  for  although  I  trust  I  may  say,  with 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  139 

the  pious  Job,  '  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear  ; 
but  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee ' — in  faith  and  mental  vision  is  my 
meaning — ^yet  the  glorious  view  does  but  excite  in  me  the  hum- 
bling sentiment  with  which  he  followed  this  declaration,  '  Where- 
fore, I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes.'  Truly,  my 
friend,  I  should  falsify  every  hour's  experience,  if  I  denied  the 
enmity  of  the  carnal  mind  against  God ;  the  ingratitude  of  a  cor- 
rupted heart  for  innumerable  external  and  internal  benefactions ; 
and  its  guilty  murmurings  at  every  parental  chastisement  for  mul- 
tiplied transgressions.  The  reason  why  we  do  not  discern  its 
rebellion  against  the  Almighty,  and  its  tyranny  over  ourselves,  is 
because  we  have  been  so  long  willing  slaves  to  its  dominion,  and 
have  so  often  aided  its  struggles  against  the  Spirit  of  God,  that 
we  love  its'  corruptions  and  defilements  better  than  all  the  graces 
of  purity  and  holiness.  This  I  have  deplorably  experienced  in 
my  past  life ;  and  now  that  I  perceive  with  a  clearer  light  than 
heretofore,  a  heavenly  index  pointing  to  the  right  road,  with  the 
emphatic  direction,  '  This  is  the  way  ;  walk  thou  in  it ;'  an  '  evil 
heart  of  unbelief,'  still  inhabiting  this  miserable  bosom,  would 
dissuade  me  from  my  course  with  the  beguiling  suggestion,  that 
'  the  ways  of  wisdom  are  not  ways  of  pleasantness,  nor  her  paths 
peace.'  'Yes,'  suggests  this  rebellious  spirit,  'you  are  entering 
on  a  rugged  and  impracticable  journey ;  it  is  beset  with  briars 
and  thorns  ;  few  of  those  whom  you  most  love  will  be  your  com- 
panions, and  all  from  whom  you  separate  will  pronounce  you  a 
fool,  a  hypocrite,  or  an  enthusiast,  for  your  pains.  You  must 
assume  new  habits  and  manners,  and  on  many  topics,  new  opin- 
ions, that  will  be  the  ridicule  of  your  acquaintance,  and  will  unfit 
you  for  the  duties  of  your  station ;  and  after  all,  having  made 
trial  of  your  undertaking,  you  will  only  come  back  into  the  world 
with  its  scorn  and  derision  for  your  folly  and  fickle-mindedness.' 
Thus  is  it  that  the  arch-adversary — who  dared  presumptuously, 
though  in  vain,  to  assail  the  sinless  purity  of  our  Redeemer  at  his 
entrance  upon  the  duties  of  his  blessed  mission,  by  tempting  his 
supposed  vanity,  and  love  of  power,  and  cupidity  of  wealth,  with 
an  offer  of  '  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  and  the  glory  of  them' — 
more  successfully  spreads  his  snares  for  the  souls  of  weak,  irreso- 
lute, and  guilty  men.     Thus  has  he  heretofore  induced  you  and 


140  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

me  to  stifle  convictions ;  permitted  us  in  some  general  way  to 
acknowledge  the  truths  of  religion,  and  join  in  its  public  duties ; 
and  allowed  us  to  avoid  open  profligacy  and  direct  opposition  to 
many  even  of  the  stricter  rules  of  life  observed  by  others ;  while 
he  has  prevented  our  following  the  good  example  of  the  truly 
pious,  and  made  us  content  ourselves  with  a  decent  system  of 
morality,  mixed  with  some  of  the  semblance  of  religion  and  the 
exercise  of  a  disposition  of  charity  and  good- will  to  our  fellow- 
men  ;  and  then  has  assured  us  that  these  would  carry  us  as  suc- 
cessfully to  heaven  as  godly  sorrow  for  sin,  repentance,  faith  in 
the  atoning  sacrifice  of  the  Son  of  Grod,  regeneration  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  newness  of  life  produced  by  the  spirit  and  regulated 
by  the  precepts  and  the  example  of  Christ. 

"  As  to  myself,  it  pleases  God  at  times  to  obscure  my  views, 
and  to  allow  my  corrupt  heart  to  fear  the  difficulties  which  I 
have  mentioned ;  and  thus  am  I  threatened  with  the  dangers  of 
backsliding,  if  not  the  perils  of  apostasy  from  the  faith  of  Christ. 
My  religious  strength  is  very  weakness,  yet  I  will  not  despair ; 
because,  blessed  be  the  Author  and  finisher  of  my  faith,  my  sal- 
vation either  from  sin  here,  or  from  eternal  death  hereafter,  de- 
pends not  on  my  unassisted  efforts.  My  help  is  laid  on  One  who 
is  mighty  to  save,  and  who  will  save,  to  the  uttermost,  all  that 
come  to  God  through  him." 

After  a  somewhat  prolonged  and  striking  train  of  reffections 
on  the  perils  of  his  future  practice  of  the  law,  much  in  the  style 
of  those  already  quoted,  he  thus  proceeds  : 

"  I  sometimes  think,  that  were  I  some  years  younger,  and 
yet  favored  with  my  present  views,  my  course  of  duty  would  be 
pretty  obvious.  But  the  want  of  capacity,  and  of  religious  and 
other  knowledge,  and  the  diminution  of  that  aptitude  to  new 
acquirements  which  belongs  to  the  youthful  mind,  with  other 
obstacles  that  need  not  be  mentioned,  banish  every  hope  of  being 
useful  in  the  profession  to  which  you  will  easily  understand  me 
as  intending  an  allusion." 

This  is  the  first  distinct  reference,  with  which  we  have  met, 
to  the  new  direction  of  his  thoughts  towards  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, and  it  shows  how  little  qualified  he  then  was  to  judge  of 
what  God  was  designing  for  him  in  the  future. 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  141 

"  Farewell,  my  friend,"  he  concludes ;  " '  Quench  not  the 
Spirit ;'  '  prove  all  things ;  hold  fast  that  which  is  good ;  abstain 
from  all  appearance  of  evil ;  and  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify 
you  wholly ;  and  I  pray  God  your  whole  spirit,  and  soul,  and 
body  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.'  This  is  heavenly  advice,  not  mine.  May  we  both  adopt 
and  pursue  it  in  all  time  to  come." 

"  Jan.  31, 1813. — Thanks  to  my  heavenly  Father,  that  he  has 
been  graciously  pleased  in  some  measure  to  prepare  me  for  wait- 
ing upon  him,  on  this  his  holy  day,  in  that  way  which  is  alone 
acceptable,  '  in  spirit  and  in  truth.'  I  say,  in  some  measure ;  but 
0,  how  small  a  dispensation  of  divine  grace  is  yet  my  portion ! 

0  Lord,  '  take  not  the  word  of  thy  truth  utterly  out  of  my  mouth ; 
for  my  hope  is  in  thy  judgments.'  My  desire  to  avoid  the  scene 
of  political  discussion,  which,  in  this  city,  is  everywhere,  save  at 
church  and  in  the  chamber,  induces  me  very  often  to  seek  a 
retreat  in  the  latter,  where,  I  thank  God,  I  may  undisturbedly 
*  commune  with  my  own  heart,  and  be  still.'  " 

He  closes  the  letter  in  which  the  foregoing  brief  passages 
occur,  with  a  Sabbath  evening's  "  song  of  ardent  praise ;"  and  then, 
as  if  feeling  a  slight  return  of  his  once  strong  dread  and  distrust 
of  all  high-wrought  feeling  in  religion,  adds  in  a  postscript, 

"  Excuse  the  foregoing  transcript  of  my  feelings.  The  full 
heart  must  speak  out,  or  it  will  burst.  I  would  place  a  whole- 
some restraint  upon  any  tendency  of  my  religious  affections 
towards  enthusiasm.  This  spirit  is  often  more  honest  than  the 
Pharisaical  formality  of  mere  outside-professors ;  but  it  obscures 
those  clear  perceptions  of  divine  truth  at  which  we  ought  to  aim, 
and  brings  disrepute  upon  religion.  Let  the  Scriptures  be  our 
only,  as  they  will  prove  themselves  our  infallible  guide.  Let  us 
never  submit  to  the  strange  persuasion  that  the  affections  are  not 
to  be  engaged — ^warmly,  feelingly  engaged,  in  the  work  of  relig- 
ion ;  but  let  us  avoid  the  evil  of  yielding  them  an  ascendency 
over  the  word  of  God.     '  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony.' " 

After  this  characteristic  caution  to  himself,  he  subjoins, 
"  Farewell,  my  dear  friend.     God  is  teaching  me  to  pray  aright. 

1  am  a  stubborn  and  backward  scholar  ;  but  in  his  good  time,  he 
will  enable  me,  as  I  hope  he  has  already  enabled  you,  to  mount 


142  MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR. 

boldly,  though  not  presumptuously,  that  '  true  ladder,'  as  Lord 
Bacon  expresses  it,  '  which  he  has  fixed  in  the  person  of  a  Me- 
diator, whereby  God  descends  to  his  creatures,  and  his  creatures 
ascend  to  God.'  " 

"  Feb.  5,  1813. — Since  I  last  wrote  you  I  can  pretend  to  but 
little  progress  in  that  work,  the  root  of  which,  I  humbly  trust, 
is  laid  in  my  heart.  The  necessity  of  circumstances,  or  rather  the 
seeming'  necessity,  carried  me  yesterday  to  an  entertainment  at 
the  Russian  minister's,  from  which  I  returned  in  the  evening  with 
a  heart  less  prepared  for  communion  with  itself,  or  with  its  God, 
than  if  I  had  been  drinking  at  the  fountain  of  his  blessed  word, 
or  employed  in  the  duty  of  private  meditation.  To-day,  your 
worthy  brother,  and  a  party  from  Philadelphia,  have  claimed  my 
attention,  and  the  offices  of  friendship,  pleasing  as  they  are  to  the 
natural  disposition,  have  made  me  partaker  of  conviviality,  on 
which  by  any  austerity  on  my  part,  I  feared  to  throw  a  damp ; 
but  which  the  retirement  of  this  chamber,  where  my  best  affec- 
tions have  had  their  birth  and  nurture,  reminds  me  must  be 
abandoned,  or  I  myself  shall  be  abandoned  by  the  Spirit  of  the 
Most  High." 

After  quoting  some  sentiments  from  Lord  Bacon,  who  seems 
to  have  been  a  favorite  author  with  him,  he  adds, 

"  You  see  how  a  mixture  with  gay  society  disqualifies  me  for 
resorting  to  higher  authority.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced, 
in  respect  to  myself,  that  these  occasions  and  temptations  must 
be  avoided ;  and  that  the  limits  of  propriety  assume  so  equivocal 
a  character  to  the  mind,  and  may  be  so  easily  exceeded  in  com- 
panionable intercourse,  that  the  tyro  in  religion  must  beware  how 
he  exposes  himself  to  the  danger  of  losing,  by  his  own  folly  and  in- 
discretion, all  that  he  has  gained.  May  the  time  soon  arrive  when 
I  shall  be  less  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  better  practice  his 
blessed  precepts,  and  have  more  courage  and  success  in  subduing 
inveterate  habits,  and  in  devoting  myself,  as  a  consistent  disciple 
of  the  Cross,  to  the  promotion  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom." 

His  next  letter  contains  an  account  of  a  visit  to  Washington — 
on  his  way  from  Philadelphia,  southwards— of  a  young  Presbyte- 
rian preacher,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner,  who  brought  him  a  letter  of 
introduction  from  Mr.  Bradford,  and  whose  eloquent  and  faithful 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  143 

preaching  at  the  capital  left  a  deep  and  most  salutary  impression. 
Mr.  Milnor  thus  narrates  two  incidents  connected  with  this  visit. 

"  Feb.  8,  1813. — ^An  amiable  friend  of  mine,"  apparently  a 
fellow-member  of  Congress,  "who  would  have  been  much  offend- 
ed to  be  told  he  was  not  a  believer,  was  frank  enough  to  acknow- 
ledge to  me,  that  he  went  home  after  morning  service,  retired  to 
his  chamber,  and  wept  bitterly  at  the  reflection,  that,  at  the  age 
of  fifty,  this  young  stripling  should  have  so  laid  open  his  deformi- 
ties, and  set  before  him  truths  to  which  he  had  so  long  been  ex- 
perimentally a  stranger.  A  conversation  held  with  him  to-day, 
induces  me  to  believe  that  an  abiding  impression  has  been  made 
on  his  mind. 

"  On  Sunday  afternoon,  at  the  close  of  service,  a  lady,  who 
had  been  much  affected,  went  to  speak  to  Mr.  Skinner ;  but  her 
tears  choked  her  utterance,  and  she  withdrew." 

The  occasion  was  apparently  blessed  to  himself  likewise,  for 
he  soon  after  subjoins : 

"  My  mind  becomes  more  stayed  upon  God.  The  realities  of 
religion  begin  to  fasten  more  steadfastly  on  my  understanding 
and  my  heart.  The  Holy  Spirit  graciously  assists  my  infirmities 
in  making  prayer  and  supplication  at  the  throne  of  grace,  and  I 
patiently  wait  for  an  answer  to  my  petitions  in  God's  own  time, 
confiding  in  the  unchangeable  faithfulness  of  his  gracious  prom- 
ises. How  dare  we  distrust  that  God  who  has  promised  to  be 
'  rich  in  mercy  to  all  who  call  upon  him  ?'  " 

"  Feb.  11,  1813. — You  ask,  '  Is  it  painful  and  injurious  to 
me  to  mingle  with  the  world,  and  to  partake  of  its  pleasures  ?' 
Yes.  Nothing  so  much  disqualifies  me  for  all  religious  duties  as 
promiscuous  company,  especially  if  it  be  of  such  a  cast  as  that 
in  which  you  and  I  have  been  accustomed  to  delight.  "Whenever 
a  seeming  necessity  has  drawn  me  reluctantly  into  it,  I  have 
returned  to  my  chamber  with  heaviness  of  heart  and  the  keenest 
stings  of  remorse  ;  so  true  is  the  observation,  as  to  the  effect  of 
such  associations,  which  Solomon  applies  to  the  excessive  use  of 
one  of  their  ordinary  accompaniments  :  '  At  the  last,  it  biteth 
like  a  serpent,  and  stingeth  like  an  adder ;'  or,  as  he  elsewhere 
says,  'Even  in  laughter  the  heart  is  sorrowful,  and  the  end  of 
that  mirth  is  heaviness.'     For  any  real  delight  which  these  things 


144  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

have  given  me,  theix  loss  is  as  nothing.  The  cross  lies  in  sub- 
jecting one's  self  to  the  imputation  of  a  hundred  motives  for  a 
new  course  of  life  different  from  the  true  ones,  and  in  offending 
many  amiable  friends,  who  cannot,  unless  enlightened  by  divine 
grace,  discern  any  just  reason  for  an  alteration  in  our  conduct. 

"  Hospitality  and  friendliness  towards  all  who  have  claims  on 
us,  may  be  lawfully  indulged,  but  revelling  and  carousal  must  be 
avoided;  and,  for  myself^  I  add  all  those  places  of  public  amuse- 
ment where  God  is  insulted  or  forgotten,  and  religion  and  mar' 
als  are  set  at  open  defiance.  If  religious  convictions  had  not 
already  divorced  me  from  that  fascinating  syren  the  theatre,  I 
should  have  been  completely  satisfied  by  the  conclusive  argu- 
ments of  Dr.  Miller,  in  his  sermon  preached  on  the  occasion  of 
the  conflagration  at  Richmond. 

"  Many  thanks  for  your  clear,  experimental  views  of  '  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.'  On  the  fundamentals  of  his  blessed, 
glorious  religion,  we  shall  never  disagree.  If  on  any  obscure, 
controverted  point  we  should  happen  to  differ,  we  will  follow  the 
conscientious  dictates  of  our  respective  minds,  appealing  to  the 
Searcher  of  hearts  for  the  honesty  of  our  views,  and  exercising 
charity  towards  each  other.  My  feelings  must  indeed  be  changed 
much  for  the  worse,  before  I  can  refuse  Christian  charity  to  every 
sincere  follower  of  the  Lamb,  whatever  be  the  denomination 
under  which  chance  or  choice  may  have  thrown  him ;  fully  be- 
lieving that,  as  '  in  every  nation,'  so  in  every  body  of  Christians, 
'  he  that  feareth  God  and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  of 
him.'" 

To  this  part  of  his  letter  is  appended  a  note,  beginning  with 
the  following  passage.  "  Chance.  Allow  me  to  recall  this  hate- 
ful expression.  How  careful  ought  we  to  be,  ever  to  bear  in  mind 
the  all-pervading  providence  of  God.  The  language,  as  well  as 
the  thoughts  of  the  days  of  our  carnality,  is  an  effective  means 
in  the  hands  of  the  tempter,  of  sullying  our  Christian  purity,  and 
of  annoying  us  in  the  warfare  in  which  we  are  now  engaged."     , , 

"  Feb.  12,  1813. — I  know  not  whether  I  am  to  consider  ra^ 
residence  in  this  place,  with  all  its  privations,  as  an  evil.  Per- 
haps it  has  been  a  blessing  in  disguise.  It  engaged  me  in  politics 
till  my  heart  sickened  with  disgust  at  the  contentious  scene 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  145 

around  me.  It  involved  me  in  the  frippery,  and  parade,  and 
foolery  of  fashionable  life,  till  I  was  surfeited  with  their  wretched 
insipidity,  and  alarmed  at  the  dangers  lurking  beneath  their  taste- 
less sweets.  Depriving  me  of  the  enjoyment  of  a  regular  at- 
tendance on  public  worship,  it  taught  me  to  prize  that  blessing 
more  highly  than  ever.  Abstracted  from  my  professional  pur- 
suits, and  the  many  engagements  which  the  cares  of  a  family 
bring  with  them,  and  finding  little  satisfaction  in  the  passing 
scene,  the  solitude  of  my  chamber  has  afforded  me  precious  op- 
portunities for  meditation,  self-examination,  communion  with  my 
own  heart,  and  finally,  by  God's  grace,  intercourse  with  heaven. 
This  work  has  been  in  progress  for  many  years."  [It  evidently 
began  the  moment  when  examination  had  convinced  his  "  rational 
understanding,"  as  he  terms  it,  of  the  divine  inspiration  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  had  driven  this  belief  of  the  head  into  what  proved 
its  long  conflict  with  the  self-righteousness  of  the  heart — a  con- 
flict in  which  nature  stoutly  withstood  grace,  and  made  disputes 
about  religion  and  an  exterior  semblance  of  it  a  shield  against 
inward  conviction,  and  an  opiate  to  conscience ;  till,  finally,  the 
very  excess  of  this  world's  noises — God  speaking  through  them — 
awoke  him  from  his  dream  of  saving  himself,  and  drove  him  for 
eternal  life  to  the  only  immovable  rock,  Christ  Jesus.]  "  In  the 
midst  of  much  worldly  business,  political  anxiety,  and  pleasura- 
ble occupation,  the  '  still  small  voice '  has  unceasingly  whispered 
in  my  ear,  that  these  could  never  constitute  my  rest;  that  there 
was  an  awful  eternity  before  me,  and  a  work  of  grace  to  be  ef- 
fected in  my  heart,  if  I  wished  for  final  happiness.  You  say,  in 
one  of  your  letters,  that  you  and  I  used  to  dispute  about  religious 
doctrines,  when  we  were  wholly  ignorant  of  the  power  of  religion 
upon  our  souls.  The  observation  is  most  true;  but  do  you  not 
believe  that  God's  Spirit  was  then  at  work  upon  us,  and  that, 
though  the  obduracy  of  our  hearts  would  not  then  yield  to  his 
requisitions,  but  we  daringly  sent  him  away  till  a  more  con- 
venient season,  yet  ho  has  been  pleased,  in  matchless  goodness, 
still  to  strive  with  us  to  the  present  day  ?  Such  is  my  persuasion ; 
and  the  desire  of  my  soul  now  is,  to  ascribe  to  him  praises  too 
exalted  for  my  polluted  lips  to  express,  for  his  long-suffering 
mercy  and  goodness;  and  fervently  and  constantly  do  I  implore 

Mem.  Milnor.  1 0 


3b46  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

that  I  may  be  preserved,  by  a  power  superior  to  my  own,  froni 
all  manner  of  sin  and  wickedness,  and  be,  one  day,  presented 
blameless  by  my  dear  Redeemer  before  the  throne  of  his  Father." 

Alluding  soon  after  to  Christ's  "  gracious  promise  of  making 
us  partakers  of  '  the  kingdom  prepared  for  us  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world,' "  and  to  the  assurance  that  "  so  shall  we  ever  be 
with  the  Lord,"  he  breaks  forth  in  the  following  strain : 

"  0  transporting,  rapturous  contemplation !  Inspired  by  such 
hopes,  founded  on  the  unchangeable  faithfulness  of  the  God  of 
truth,  vain  pomp  and  glory  of  the  world,  we  hate  you.  Honor, 
fame,  riches,  become  empty  sounds;  and  our  whole  happiness 
consists  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  noble  purpose  which  you  have 
intimated,  of  knowing  '  only  Christ  Jesus  and  him  crucified.' " 

He  proceeds  to  advise  the  preservation  of  their  letters,  in  order 
that,  if  their  hearts  should  ever  grow  cold,  and  lose  the  sweet 
sense  which  they  then  enjoyed,  of  "heavenly  moments,  unseen 
by  any  but  their  Father,"  a  recurrence  to  what  they  had  once 
written  might  be  blessed  to  the  rekindling  of  their  fires,  and  the 
reviving  of  their  unearthly  joys.  This  again  put  in  movement 
the  balance-wheel  of  his  caution,  and  therefore  he  adds, 

"  But  let  us  avoid  enthusiastic  delusions,  and  test  all  our 
emotions  by  the  written  word  of  God.  Let  our  ecstasies,  if 
haply  God  inspire  us  with  some  portion  of  the  spirit  that  ani- 
mated them,  be  such  as  were  felt  by  David,  and  Job,  and  regen- 
erated Paul.  Then  we  need  not  fear  that  our  affections  will  run 
into  enthusiasm  and  rant.  At  least,  though  a  gainsaying,  igno- 
rant world  might  pronounce  it  such,  yet  such  will  not  be  the 
judgment  of  the  redeemed  of  God.  They  have  felt  the  transports 
of  a  soul  emancipated  from  the  slavery  of  sin,  and  favored,  in 
mental  vision,  with  a  glimpse  of  the  glories  of  the  heavenly 
world.  0  my  friend,  may  your  heart  be  as  light  as  mine  is  to- 
day. Last  night  was  a  happy  night.  Dare  I  be  so  presumptu- 
ous as  to  say,  that  God  was  present  with  me  in  my  ardent  sup- 
plications, and  vouchsafed  me  an  answer  of  peace  ?  Knowing, 
as  I  do,  my  ignorance  and  blindness,  I  could  not,  of  myself^  have 
so  poured  out  my  soul  unto  him.  Thanks  be  to  his  adorable 
name,  the  Spirit  gave  me  utterance,  and  I  feel  a  humble  hope 
that  I  have  not  wrestled  for  nauofht." 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  147 

The  farther  we  advance  in  these  transcripts,  the  more  are 
we  struck  with  what  must  have  been  the  uncommon  depth  and 
strength  of  Mr.  Milnor's  early  antipathy  to  Calvinism.  Even 
with  those  who  allow  that  his  objections  against  that  system  were 
just,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  his  antipathy  was  so  excessively 
sensitive  as  to  render  him,  for  a  long  period,  all  but  incapable  of 
the  true  and  full  comforts  of  a  Christian  hope.  For  no  sooner 
was  he  brought  to  something  like  the  dawnings  of  that  hope,  and 
to  an  expression  of  the  holy  joys  to  which  it  naturally  gives  birth, 
than  he  was  seized  with  an  uncomfortable  fear,  lest  his  friend 
should  understand  him  as  admitting  the  doctrine  of  ^^  assurance," 
or  as  professing  to  have  become  one  of  "the  elect."  Hence,  im- 
mediately after  writing  the  letter  from  which  the  last  extracts 
are  taken,  he  sent  forward  another  to  set  himself  right  on  this 
point. 

"  Feb.  13, 1813. — I  did  not  intend  so  soon  to  trouble  you  with 
another  letter ;  but  I  fear,  lest,  in  the  warmth  of  my  feelings 
when  I  last  wrote,  I  have  expressed  myself  presumptuously  and 
unadvisedly.  I  would  by  no  means  '  lay  the  flattering  unction 
to  my  soul,'  that  my  spiritual  warfare  is  accomplished.  God 
forbid  that  I  should  take  up  a  false  rest,  and  cry,  '  Peace,  peace, 
when  there  is  no  peace.'  There  is  no  danger  so  great,  in  my  eyes, 
as  a  false  security  in  present  attainments.  It  stops  the  progress 
of  piety  in  the  heart ;  shuts  out  those  affusions  of  divine  grace, 
which  would  continue  to  be  dispensed,  were  the  mind  kept  in  a 
meek  and  humble  state ;  and  is,  I  believe,  not  infrequently  a  road 
which  imperceptibly  carries  an  awakened  sinner  back  to  the 
world,  and  makes  his  latter  end  worse  than  the  beginning." 

These  thoughts  are  just ;  but  what  was  there  in  his  previous 
letter  to  justify  the  "fear"  which  prompted  them?  That  "God 
was  present  with  him,"  and  heard  his  prayer  with  "an  answer  of 
peace ;"  that  "the  Spirit  gave  him  utterance,"  and  filled  him  with 
the  "  humble  hope  that  he  had  not  wrestled  in  vain  ;"  and  that 
the  night  should  have  been  made  "happy"  amid  the  refreshings 
thus  kindly  vouchsafed  him;  were  surely  no  reasons  why  he 
should  distress  himself  with  the  fear  that  he  had  "taken  up  a 
false  rest."  Nor,  it  is  presumed,  would  he  have  felt  this  fear, 
had  he  not  once  filled  his  mind  so  crowdedly  with  the  theory  that 


148  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

all  strong  hope  borders  somewhere  on  presumption ;  and  that 
enthusiasm,  though  often  "  honest,"  is  yet,  almost  necessarily, 
mischievous.  From  some  passages  in  his  next  letter,  he  seems  to 
have  been  already  thrown  far  back  into  darkness  and  discomfort. 

"  Feb.  17,  1813. — Except  when  I  seek  the  privacy  of  my 
chamber,  I  am  in  the  midst  of  a  continued  whirl  of  politics  and 
fashion;  and  after  subjecting  myself  to  much  censure  for  the 
languid  interest  which  I  take  both  in  the  one  and  in  the  other, 
I  find  my  own  conscience,  in  my  closet,  upbraiding  me  with  mix- 
ing too  much  in  their  contaminations.  With  respect  to  politics, 
my  heart  loathes  their  corrupting  and  uncharitable  dissonances ; 
and  as  for  the  parade  of  drawing-rooms,  it  can  afford  little  pleas- 
ure to  a  mind  bowed  down  under  a  conviction  of  sin,  and  humbly 
seeking  the  regenerating  and  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Spirit 
of  God.  Solitude  and  retirement,  during  some  part  of  each  day, 
can  on  no  account  be  dispensed  with.  If  secular  occupations  de- 
prive us  of  them  during  the  hours  usually  allotted  to  the  world, 
let  us  abridge  the  unnecessary  quantum  of  sleep  in  which  our 
sluggish  natures  too  often  invite  us  to  indulge.  My  religious 
impressions  have  induced  me  to  consider  this  useless  waste  of 
time  as  a  sin  to  be  abandoned ;  and  I  find  a  late  retirement  to 
the  pillow,  and  an  earlier  desertion  of  it,  by  no  means  injurious 
to  health. 

"  I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  interesting  extract  relative  to 
the  conversion  of  the  Bishop  of  Carthage.  It  confirms  the  obser- 
vation made  by  you  in  a  previous  letter,  that  truth  is  a  unit,  and 
that  believers  in  all  ages  will  be  found  to  have  undergone,  what- 
ever be  the  diversity  of  their  circumstances,  substantially  the 
same  operations  of  divine  grace  in  the  regeneration  and  renewal 
of  their  hearts.  It  is  not,  however,  for  us  presumptuously  to 
expect  that  we  shall  be  favored  in  the  extraordinary  manner 
allowed  in  God's  providence  in  this  instance  of  Cyprian,  and 
some  other  cases." 

"  I  am  but  at  the  threshold  of  this  great  undertaking  of 
'  working  out  my  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling.'  My  course 
is  much  less  successful  than  you  suppose.  If  '  the  Day-spring 
from  on  high'  seem  now  and  then  to  shine  into  my  corrupt  and 
darkened  mind,  its  rays  are  ever  and  anon  obscured  by  more 


OV  TBK  f^      ' 

RELIGIOUS  CHANGE. 

than  midnight  gloom.     The  very  '  blackness  of  darkness^^i^pears — 
sometimes  to  blot  out  all  my  hopes,  and  my  only  solace  is  the 
still  continued  promises  of  the  Gospel,  which  the  combined  efforts 
of  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  will  never,  I  trust,  be  able 
to  defeat." 

He  had  recently  attended,  in  Alexandria,  the  preacliing  of  a 
charity  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilmer,  in  the  Methodist  church. 
Of  this  he  remarks, 

"  Judge  Washington  since  observed  to  me — not  with  a  view 
to  censure,  for  he  afterwards  highly  applauded  both  the  preacher 
and  the  sermon — that  he  had  seen  me  in  Alexandria  '  listening  to 
a  Presbyterian  sermon  from  an  Episcopal  minister  in  a  Metho- 
dist meeting-house.'  0  that  all  Christians  agreeing  in  the  fun- 
damentals of  religion,  would  feel  that  glowing  love  towards  one 
another,  enjoined  by  that  commandment  of  our  Lord,  which  he 
does  iiot  hesitate  to  assimilate  in  dignity  and  importance  to  the 
first  and  greatest." 

"  Feb.  18,  1813. — What  a  precious  privilege  is  it  to  such 
worms  of  the  dust  as  we,  to  have  such  a  door  of  access  opened  to 
us  into  the  holiest !  My  heart  burns  with  rapturous  gratitude 
and  praise  at  this  wonderful  condescension  in  that  infinitely  ex- 
alted Being  of  beings,  who  dwells  in  light  inaccessible  and  full  of 
glory,  and  before  whom  even  angels  veil  their  faces." 

"  You  see  I  keep  on  with  my  letters,  destitute  as  they  are  of 
novelty,  and,  except  to  minds  exercised  as  ours  are,  of  interest 
too.  Do  not  criticise  their  language,  or  their  method ;  for  I  at- 
tend to  neither.  Such  as  it  is,  you  have  my  heart  laid  open  to 
your  view,  with  all  its  obliquities  and  alternations  :  now  tossed 
on  an  ocean  of  fears  and  doubts  almost  at  the  will  of  the  tempter ; 
and  now,  with  the  impetus  from  that  Heavenly  Wind  which  '  blow- 
eth  where  it  listeth,'  and  under  the  pilotage  of  that  unerring 
guide,  the  revelation  of  God,  gently  steering  towards  '  the  haven 
where  it  would  be.'  " 

A  large  part  of  his  next  letter,  which  is  very  long,  is  occupied 
on  a  theme  to  which  he  often  recurs — ^the  difficulties  thrown  in 
the  way  of  his  religious  progress  by  his  professional  pursuits,  and 
his  former  entanglements  amid  the  pleasures  of  the  world.  After 
dwelling  on  the  subject  at  such  length,  he  proceeds,  under  date  ot 


150  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  Feb.  20,  1813. — ^Accept,  my  friend,  these  Saturday  night 
effusions.  They  come  from  a  heart  more  and  more  convinced  of 
its  innate  and  obstinate  depravity,  yet  excited  by  divine  grace  to 
pant  after  that  '  laver  of  regeneration '  spoken  of  by  the  pious 
Cyprian ;  and  though  moving  with  a  faltering  and  unsteady  pace 
in  the  appointed  way,  yet  having  no  dependence  on  itself,  but 
looking  towards  a  bleeding  Saviour  as  its  only  hope  and  stay,  and 
consoling  itself  with  an  assurance,  that  what  it  could  never  have 
accomplished  for  itself,  has  been  freely  done  by  an  adorable  act 
of  unmerited  mercy  on  the  part  of  the  Son  of  God.  0  amazing 
condescension !  Love  unparalleled !  Well  might  the  apostle  so 
feelingly  declare,  '  Scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one  die ; 
yet  peradventure  for  a  good  man  some  would  even  dare  to  die : 
but  God  commendeth  his  love  to  us,  in  that  while  we  were  yet 
sinners,  Christ  died  for  us.''  " 

Alluding  to  the  danger  of  "  expecting,  too  soon,  conclusive 
evidence  of  God's  favor,"  in  what  he  calls,  though  without  theo- 
logical accuracy,  "the  complete  regeneration  of  our  hearts" — 
language  which  seems  to  confound  our  original  new-birth  of  the 
Spirit  with  final,  perfect  sanctification — he  proceeds : 

"  His  own  time  is  the  best  time.  Let  us  beware  of  the  sug- 
gestions of  the  tempter,  who  would  have  us  outrun  the  openings 
of  divine  light  upon  our  souls,  and  upbraid  the  Almighty  with 
the  tardiness  of  his  operations.  Hearts,  so  lately  at  enmity  with 
God,  and  even  now  constantly  prone  to  forget  that  '  his  ways 
are  not  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  our  thoughts,'  should  be 
bowed  down  in  humility,  and  patiently  wait  for  God  to  be  fur- 
ther gracious  to  us,  by  giving  us  a  sensible  assurance  of  our  be- 
ing wholly  his.  If  this  be  withheld,  a  scriptural  caution  should 
silence  every  murmur:  'Who  art  thou,  0  man,  that  repliest 
against  God  V     '  He  that  reproveth  God,  let  him  answer  it.'  " 

After  he  began  this  letter,  he  received  one  from  his  friend, 
mourning  under  an  unusual  darkness,  which  had  come  over  his 
soul.  Among  other  comforting  suggestions,  therefore,  he  offers 
the  following  in  a  postscript : 

"  Feb.  21,  1813. — It  is  good  for  us,  my  friend,  and  an  evi- 
dence of  God's  love,  that  he  chastens  us,  and  does  not  permit  us 
to  relinquish  our  warfare  by  a  false  security  of  its  having  been 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  151 

already  accomplished.  Talk  not  of  '  delusion.'  It  is  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Evil  One  to  shake  your  faith  in  the  Redeemer. 
The  Holy  Spirit  has  begun  a  work,  which  he  wUl  assuredly  ac- 
complish, if  you  and  I  do  not  wilfully  resist  his  strivings.  What 
though  our  prayers  are  weak  and  languid  ?  We  have  a  prevail- 
ing '  Advocate  with  the  Father — Jesus  Christ  the  righteous ;  and 
he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.'  Into  his  hands  let  us  resign 
our  cause  ;  let  his  blood  and  merits  plead  for  us  ;  and  let  us  not 
dare  to  doubt  but  his  intercession  will  procure  for  us  a  full  dis- 
charge of  all  our  sins,  and  a  renewal  of  our  hearts  unto  holiness 
and  newness  of  life.  If  our  desires  and  prayers  have  ever  wan- 
dered from  the  ground  on  which  they  must  rest  to  be  prevalent 
with  God,  let  us  apply  to  ourselves  the  Redeemer's  rebuke,  obey 
his  divine  injunction,  and  rely,  yes,  boldly  and  confidently  rely  on 
his  faithfulness  to  the  annexed  promise  :  '  Hitherto  have  ye  asked 
nothing  in  my  name.  Ask,  that  ye  may  receive,  and  that  your 
joy  may  be  full.'  '  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  word  abide  in 
you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you.' 
The  Psalmist,  too,  assures  us  that  '  God  forgetteth  not  the  cry  of 
the  humble  :'  and  again,  '  This  poor  man  cried ;  the  Lord  heard 
and  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  distresses.' 

"  My  confidence  in  the  Lord  is  strong  this  morning :  I  fer- 
vently beseech  him  to  make  yours  so." 

He  was  learning  to  "comfort  one  who  was  in  trouble,  by  the 
comfort  wherewith  he  himself  was  comforted  of  God ;"  and  so 
experienced  the  truth  of  the  divine  assurance,  "  He  that  water- 
eth"  others,  "  shall  be  watered  also  himself." 

"  Feb.  25,  1813.— I  have  need  of  an  apology  for  the  length  of 
my  last  letter,  rather  than  so  soon  to  trouble  you  with  another ; 
but  I  hope  it  is  one  evidence  of  my  continued  love  to  the  blessed 
Saviour,  that  I  delight  to  hold  converse  with  one  of  his  acknow- 
ledged disciples,  and  to  be  employed  in  so  often  speaking  forth  the 
praises  of  his  holy  name.  If  there  be  one  sentiment  at  this 
time  predominant  in  my  mind,  it  is  that  of  gratitude  for  his 
long-suffering  goodness  and  merciful  loving-kindness  to  sinners, 
especially  to  me,  who  am  the  chief  of  sinners.  He  has  been 
pleased  to  call  me  out  of  darkness  into  some  degree  of  his  mar- 
vellous light ;  and  thanks  be  to  the  adorable  faithfulness  of  his 


152  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

.character,  no  doubt  dares  intrude  into  my  mind  of  his  perfectly 
i'ulfilling  towards  me  every  promise  of  his  gracious  word  to  pen- 
itent offenders.  My  prospects  are,  it  is  true,  sometimes  most 
lamentably  darkened.  Since  I  last  wrote  to  you,  I  have,  at  times, 
been  greatly  discouraged.  My  devotional  exercises  have  more 
than  once  been  destitute  of  the  life  and  power  of  religion,  and,  of 
course,  have  been  followed  by  none  of  the  cheering  consolations, 
expected  on  the  ground  of  a  Gospel  assurance,  from  communion 
with  heaven.  I  accept  these  evidences  of  God's  displeasure  with 
humility,  as  chastenings  due  my  transgressions ;  and  pray  afresh 
that  they  may  be  efficacious  in  bringing  down  every  vain  imagi- 
nation, and  in  teaching  me  to  rate  still  lower  every  performance 
of  my  own — to  forsake,  more  and  more,  evil  ways  and  evil  thoughts, 
and  to  rely  wholly  on  the  grace  of  God  for  ability  to  do  so,  as 
well  as  to  offer  up  acceptable  sacrifices  of  praise  and  thanksgiv- 
ings for  his  numerous  mercies,  and  humble  supplications  for  a 
continuance  of  his  unmerited  favor.  The  world,  the  world,  my 
friend,  is  the  great  obstacle.  We  must  take  a  firm  stand,  and 
tread  it  under  our  feet." 

"  I  have  received  a  most  pleasing  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Kemper,  written  in  the  true  spirit  of  a  gospel  minister.  No  man 
more  earnestly  desires  to  see  the  Church  rise  out  of  the  cold  and 
lifeless  state  in  which  she  now  lies,  or  more  fervently  rejoices  at 
the  prospect  of  these  days  of  coldness  fleeing  away.  '  My  heart,' 
says  he,  '  is  indeed  cheered  at  the  prospect ;  my  spirits  revive. 
When  the  hands  of  those  who  are  appointed  to  minister  in  holy 
things  are  upheld  by  their  lay  brethren,  victory  in  the  Redeemer's 
cause  is  certain.  I  anticipate  the  time  when  we  shall  take  sweet 
counsel  together,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  this  best  of  causes. 
Nor  will  we  be  long  alone.  Many  have  become  sensible  of  the 
vast  importance  of  their  immortal  souls,  who,  if  they  continue 
seeking,  will  soon  glory  in  the  Cross  of  Christ.' 

"  I  will  show  you  the  whole  of  this  letter  when  I  see  you, 
because  I  am  persuaded  you  view  the  Church  as  I  do  :  not  as  con- 
fined to  any  sect  bearing  the  Christian  name,  but  as  embracing, 
in  its  wide-spread  arms,  the  redeemed  of  God  through  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whatever  branch  of  the  great  family  Provi-< 
dence  may  have  cast  their  lot.     Gospel  charity,  like  gospel  faith, 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  153 

working  by  love  upon  the  heart,  breaks  down  that  unhappy  wall 
of  separation,  which  too  much  divides  brethren  of  the  same  house- 
hold ;  who,  however  they  may  differ  about  forms  of  worship  and 
of  government,  or  even  on  some  controverted  doctrines,  unite  in 
cordially  embracing  the  great  fundamental  and  peculiar  doctrines 
of  our  holy  religion.  I  thank  God  for  favoring  me  with  an  ex- 
pansion of  heart  towards  all  the  members  of  the  mystical  body 
of  Christ,  to  which  I  desire  to  be  united  as  one  of  the  humblest 
and  the  least." 

Perhaps  we  have  met  with  no  evidence  of  his  own  adoption 
into  the  true  family  of  Christ  more  convincing  than  that  contained 
in  this  last  passage  :  the  expansion  of  his  heart's  love  to  the  limit 
of  embracing  all  who  are  in  Christ  by  faith.  "  We  know  that 
we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love  the  breth- 
ren," the  entire  Christian  brotherhood.  Another  passage  from 
this  letter  shows,  that  though  Mr.  Milnor  had  become  tired  of  po- 
litical life,  yet  he  had  not  done  serving  his  country ;  for,  perad- 
venture,  he  did  that  country  more  good  by  his  prayers  than  by 
his  speeches.     He  says, 

"  The  mischievous  policy  which  has  involved  us  in  a  most 
disastrous  war,  has  perhaps  been  permitted  in  divine  wisdom,  as 
a  judgment  for  our  sins.  Let  us  hope  that  it  may  yet  be  over- 
ruled for  good  to  our  beloved  country ;  and  never  let  us  omit  to 
pray  to  Him  who  governs  all  things,  that  he  would  rule  our  rulers, 
counsel  our  counsellors,  and  teach  our  senators  wisdom ;  so  that, 
in  due  time,  the  days  of  prosperity  and  peace  may  once  more 
return  to  our  hitherto  highly  favored  nation." 

By  this  time  he  had  received  his  friend's  reply  to  his  long 
letter  of  consolation,  dated,  February  20,  21,  and  22.  The  fol- 
lowing passage  will  show  that  his  offered  comforts  had  not  proved 
like  waters  poured  on  the  desert,  which  carmot  be  gathered  up 
again. 

"  Feb.  26,  1813. — Independently  of  the  happiness  which  it 
gives  me  at  all  times  to  hear  from  you,  I  have,  in  this  instance, 
a  special  happiness,  from  the  assurance  that  you  have  been  fa- 
vored with  those  consolations  which  were  denied  you  at  the  time 
of  writing  your  previous  letter.  I  am  indeed  rejoiced,  if,  under 
God,  the  counsel  of  one  who  so  much  needs  it  as  I  do,  has  been 


154  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  any  service  in  this  good  work ;  and  yet  I  would  not  claim  the 
smallest  portion  of  merit,  for  I  am  a  debtor  for  all  things  myself 
to  the  inexhaustible  treasury  of  the  blessed  word  of  God.  I  trust 
the  time  will  arrive,  when,  instead  of  the  bufFetings  which  the 
noviciate  in  religion  experiences,  we  shall  be  raised  above  them ; 
and  although  we  may  have  to  '  call  to  remembrance  the  former 
days,  in  which,  after  we  were '  partially  '  illuminated,  we  en- 
dured a  great  fight  of  afflictions,'  we  shall  yet  have  the  full 
assurance  in  our  hearts,  that '  there  remaineth  a  rest  to  the  people 
of  God,'  and  that  we  are  of  the  happy  number  of  those  who  are 
entitled  to  claim  it." 

In  the  letter  which  Mr.  Milnor  is  here  answering,  his  friend, 
having  been  comforted,  found  his  heart  courageous  and  his  tongue 
loosed,  so  that,  in  adverting  to  the  best  means  of  counteracting 
the  evil  tendencies  of  legal  practice  and  other  necessary  inteir- 
course  with  a  wicked  world,  he  was  led  to  make  the  following 
quotation  from  Watts. 

"As  to  our  duty  on  such  occasions,  I  have  been  struck  with 
these  stanzas  as  peculiarly  apt. 

"  '.Whene'er  constrained  a  while  to  stay 

With  men  of  life  profane, 
I'll  set  a  double  guard  that  day, 

Nor  let  my  talk  be  vain. 
I'll  scarce  allow  my  lips  to  speak 

The  pious  thoughts  I  feel, 
Lest  scoffers  should  occasion  take 

To  mock  my  holy  zeal. 
Yet,  if  some  proper  hour  appear, 

I'll  not  be  overawed. 
But  let  the  scoffing  sinner  hear 

That  we  can  speak  for  God.'  " 

In  his  remarks  on  this  quotation,  Mr.  Milnor  lets  us  look  into 
one  of  the  constitutional  peculiarities,  perhaps  we  may  say  faults 
of  his  mind — -a  peculiarity,  indeed,  in  which  he  has  many  fol- 
lowers :  we  refer  to  his  great  caution,  tending  to  reserve,  in  mak- 
ing religion  the  subject  of  direct  personal  appeal  to  sinners. 
Some  talk  to  these  too  much,  because  they  talk  indiscreetly  ; 
others  talk  too  little,  because,  when  they  do  open  their  mouth,  it 
gpeaketh  right  things.    The  former  need  a  bridle  on  their  tongues; 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  155 

the  latter  should  pray  against  bemg  tonguetied.  But  to  the 
remarks. 

"  I  concur  with  you  in  your  views  of  the  danger  not  only  of 
business  pursued,  and  of  pleasure  indulged  as  heretofore,  but  also 
of  the  vain  and  trifling  intercourse,  to  which  we  must  every  day 
be  unavoidably  subjected" — [supposing  the  continuance  of  their 
legal  practice.]  "Your  poet's  advice  is  excellent,  but  a  man 
must  be  well  grounded  in  religion  to  make  it  safe  for  him,  in 
general,  to  introduce  topics  connected  with  it  into  ordinary  con- 
versation. There  are  undoubtedly  times  when  it  may  be  expe- 
dient and  profitable  to  do  so ;  but  commonly  so  sacred  a  subject 
should  be  reserved  for  the  private  intercourse  of  kindred  minds, 
shut  out  from  a  giddy  and  thoughtless  world,  to  commune  with 
each  other  on  God's  dealings  with  their  souls,  and  to  build  each 
other  up  in  their  most  holy  faith.  This,  I  trust,  will  often  be 
our  sweet  employ." 

"Feb.  28,  1813. — 'The  race  is  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the 
battle  to  the  strong.'  Thou,  Lord,  art  the  only  giver  of  victory, 
and  vain  are  the  efforts  of  men  who  rely  upon  their  own  strength, 
and  call  not  upon  thee  for  aid.  0  be  pleased  to  teach  us  every 
day  our  entire  dependence  upon  thee.  Give  us  true  repentance, 
saving  faith,  willing  obedience,  enlarged  love,  perfect  humility ; 
so  that,  having  exercised  all  the  graces  with  which  thy  Holy 
Spirit  may  endow  us,  we  may  still  avow  ourselves  '  unprofitable 
servants,'  and  thankfully  acknowledge  that  it  is  of  thy  free 
mercy  only  we  are  saved : — 

"  Such  have  been  the  aspirations  of  my  heart  this  day,  both 
in  the  house  of  God  and  on  my  knees  in  this  chamber.  The 
gratitude  which  I  feel  towards  this  gracious  Giver  of  every  good 
and  perfect  gift,  for  his  infinite  condescension  in  inviting  us  to 
these  approaches  to  his  throne,  burns  at  this  moment  in  my  bo- 
som with  an  ardor  not  to  be  described.  Let  holy  David  supply 
the  song  of  thankful  praise.  '  I  will  praise  thee,  0  Lord  ;  even 
thy  truth,  0  my  God.  Unto  thee  will  I  sing  upon  the  harp,  0 
thou  Holy  One  of  Israel.  My  lips  shall  greatly  rejoice  when  I 
sing  unto  thee,  and  my  soul  which  thou  hast  redeemed.  I  will 
hope  continually,  and  will  yet  praise  thee  more  and  more.  My 
mouth  shall  show  forth  thy  righteousness,  and  thy  salvation  all 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  day.     I  will  go  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  God ;  I  will 
make  mention  of  thy  righteousness,  even  of  thine  only.' 

"  How  greatly  am  I  astonished  when  I  look  back  at  my  for- 
mer misconceptions  of  religious  truth.  I  refer  not  merely  to  its 
practical  influence  on  the  life  and  conversation,  but  to  a  theoret- 
ical view  of  it  as  a  system.  Those  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  on 
which,  if  I  know  my  own  feelings  now,  I  consider  all  my  hopes 
of  eternal  happiness  as  resting,  were,  to  my  understanding,  so 
repulsive,  that  my  constant  effort  was,  not  daring  utterly  to 
reject  them,  to  qualify  them  so  as  to  suit  my  own  dark,  limited, 
and  perverted  views.  Forgetting  that  the  great  Supreme  '  will 
never  give  his  glory  to  another,'  my  endeavor  was,  to  make  poor, 
finite,  feeble,  and  depraved  man,  the  efficient  cause  of  his  own 
salvation ;  in  this  delusion  losing  sight,  in  a  very  great  degree, 
of  the  glorious  and  complete  atonement  of  Christ,  and  evading 
the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  appropriating  its  benefits  to  the 
soul  of  the  believer.  Then  did  I  employ  myself  in  hewing  out 
broken  cisterns,  and  in  amusing  myself  with  many  inventions 
calculated  to  strip  the  blessed  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
of  all  that  I  now  see  in  it  as  most  estimable  and  important.  That 
'  it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps,'  but  that  his 
deliverance  from  the  thraldom  of  sin,  and  his  hopes  of  everlasting 
happiness,  rest  wholly  upon  the  offering  made  by  '  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,'  and  upon  the  regen- 
erating, converting,  and  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  the  heart,  are  now  the  pillars  which  support  the  whole 
-fabric  of  my  religious  faith.  Without  these  fundamental  doc- 
trines, the  word  of  God  degenerates  into  a  mere  system  of  ethics  ; 
and  the  only  surprising  thing  is,  that  such  a  mission  as  that  of 
our  Saviour's,  his  sufferings,  and  ignominious  death,  should  have 
seemed  necessary  for  so  trifling  an  effect  as  that  ascribed  to  them 
by  those  who  thus  depress  His  glorious  merits,  sacrilegiously,  shall 
I  say,  to  exalt  their  own.  Such,  once,  were  you  and  I.  Such 
was  the  burden  of  our  unprofitable,  unsanctified  discussions.  Let 
our  prayer  to  God  be,  that  '  we  may  obtain  mercy,  because  we 
did  it  igriorantly,  and  in  unbelief.'  For  my  part,  I  humble  my- 
self before  God  for  this  and  all  my  multiplied  transgressions ; 
and  confess,  that  were  he  strict  to  mark  iniquity,  I  could  not 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  157 

abide  it.  But  with  him  there  is  mercy  and  plenteous  redemp- 
tion. Let  us  not  despair  of  their  extension  even  to  us.  He  will 
yet  give  us  to  '  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  to  joy'  even  abundantly 
'  in  the  God  of  our  salvation.'  " 

"  March  2,  1813. — L  hope  there  is  not  an  undue  spice  of  self- 
complacency  in  the  gratification  which  it  gives  me  to  hear  from 
you,  arising  out  of  the  kind  things  you  are  pleased  to  say  of  me ; 
for  although  I  will  not  be  so  fastidious  as  to  deny  the  value 
which  I  set  upon  your  good  opinion,  yet  the  insight  which  it  has 
pleased  God  to  give  me  into  my  heart,  and  the  hostility  which  it 
daily  and  hourly  evinces  to  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Comforter, 
will,  I  trust,  sufficiently  warn  and  guard  me  against  spiritual 
pride,  and  the  too  favorable  opinions  of  friends  so  partial  as 
yourself." 

Yet  this,  or  something  else,  as  he  says,  "  seemed  to  have 
obliterated  the  impressions  of  the  Sabbath,  and  to  have  prostrated 
all  his  religious  affections." 

"  At  an  early  hour  in  the  evening,  I  retired  to  my  chamber, 
and  opened  the  sacred  volume.  It  seemed  to  have  no  word  of 
comfort  for  me,  and  I  laid  it  aside,  disposed  to  retire  to  my  slum- 
bers without  this  their  usual  prelude.  Happily,  however,  I  have 
not  latterly  dared  to  go  to  my  rest  without  a  previous  prostration 
at  the  footstool  of  the  throne  of  grace.  I  wept  bitterly  at  the 
necessity  of  entering  on  this  solemn  exercise  with  icy  feelings ; 
nay,  I  fear,  with  almost  a  disposition  to  evade  the  duty.  I  am 
sure,  I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  a  Christian  friend  with  me, 
whose  tongue  might  have  relieved  my  own  from  a  service  for 
which  I  felt  utterly  unfit.  But  it  was  best  for  me  to  be  deprived 
of  this  seeming  blessing,  this  praying  friend.  Our  heavenly 
Father  did  not  suffer  my  apathy  and  torpor  to  continue  long. 
The  humble  petition,  that  he  would  be  pleased  '  not  to  cast  me 
away  from  his  presence,  nor  take^his  Holy  Spirit  from  me,'  but 
that  he  would  '  give  me  the  comfort  of  his  help  again,  and  stab- 
lish  me  with  his  free  Spirit,'  was  not  unanswered.  My  soul, 
before  full  of  heaviness,  and  disquieted  within  me,  ready  to  cry 
out  unto  the  God  of  my  strength,  '  Why  hast  thou  forgotten  me  ?' 
received  new  life  from  the  warming,  animating  beams  of  divine 
love.     My  praises  rose  into  rapture,  and  I  left  my  requests  with 


158  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  God  of  all  grace,  with  a  renewed  confidence  in  his  unchange- 
able goodness  and  truth ;  exclaiming  with  holy  David,  I  will  '  put 
my  trust  in  Grod ;  I  will  yet  thank  him,  who  is  the  help  of  my 
countenance  and  my  Grod.'  I  will  only  add,  that  thus  prepared, 
the  sacred  volume  gave  me  sweet  employment  until  the  lateness 
of  the  hour  obliged  me  to  retire  to  rest.  To  no  one  but  yourself 
would  I  be  thus  particular.  I  am  so  to  you,  because  the  result 
of  this  conflict  furnishes  a  consoling  assurance  of  the  efficacy  of 
humble,  fervent  prayer  ;  a  privilege  and  blessing  so  little  prized, 
so  much  neglected." 

He  goes  on  to  say,  "  To-morrow  is  the  last  day  of  my  public 
life,"  and  to  take  a  sort  of  review  of  his  political  principles  and 
conduct  during  his  membership  in  Congress,  under  the  light  of 
his  new  and  higher  views ;  and  then  he  adds, 

"  But  how  I  fatigue  you  with  this  endless  talk  about  myself. 
Let  me  turn  to  the  more  grateful  duty  of  congratulating  you  on 
your  increased  composure  of  mind,  your  consequent  determina- 
tion to  unite  with  the  people  of  God  in  the  holy  comm  anion,  the 
gratifying  circumstances  of  Mrs.  Bradford's  association  with  you 
in  this  solemn  profession,  and  the  consolations  which  you  derive 
from  your  stated  family  observances.  All  these  sources  of  hap- 
piness will,  I  hope,  be  one  day  mine.  How  long  some  of  them 
may  be  postponed,  I  cannot  tell.  Some  appeals  to  my  nearest 
earthly  friend  are  not  answered  as  I  could  wish.  But  conversa- 
tion and  prayer  may,  with  higher  aid,  make  more  impression. 
My  appeals  are  not  rejected  or  negatived,  but  passed  over  slightly 
With  a  sort  of  acquiescence  bordering  on  indifference.  But  per- 
haps I  am  mistaken  in  my  opinion.  Mrs.  Milnor  is  too  kind  and 
affectionate,  if  it  were  for  my  sake  only,  to  let  me  travel  on 
alone.  The  heavenly  Teacher  will,  I  hope,  make  her,  for  her  own 
sake,  my  companion  in  this,  as  in  all  the  other  duties  of  life." 

His  next  letter  was  written  on  the  4th  of  March,  the  day  of 
President  Madison's  re-inauguration,  while  the  writer  was  con- 
fined to  his  chamber  by  his  old  enemy,  the  gout.  It  turns  chiefly 
on  the  event  of  the  day,  and  the  character  of  the  war  in  which 
the  country  was  involved  ;  and  has,  therefore,  little  or  nothing  to 
the  purpose  of  these  extracts.  But,  two  days  later,  being  still 
confined,  he  wrote  again ;  and  his  letter  was  full  of  interest. 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  .  159 

.     "  March  6,  1813. — I  sit  down,  my  worthy  friend,  to  write 
you,  in  all  probability,  for  the  last  time  from  this  place. 

"  In  the  series  of  letters  already  transmitted,  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  give  you  a  faithful  transcript  of  my  feelings  on  the  all- 
important  subject  of  religion.  Unless  I  have  been  under  a  great 
delusion,  they  describe  to  you  a  work  of  God  upon  my  soul,  pro- 
duced by  the  free  and  unmerited  dispensation  of  his  Spirit,  for 
which  I  desire  ever  to  be  most  thankful,  and  to  manifest  my 
gratitude  by  devoting,  as  he  may  enable  me  to  do,  the  residue  of 
my  life  to  his  holy  service.  Not  that  I  expect  to  pay,  by  any 
imperfect  labors  of  my  own,  the  incalculable  amount  of  obliga- 
tion which  I  owe  my  heavenly  Benefactor.  My  blessed  Surety 
has  done  for  me  what  I  never  should  have  been  able  to  do  for 
myself,  though  an  angel's  powers  had  been  mine.  But  although 
my  Ransom  has  been  offered  and  accepted,  and  I  would  not  dare 
presumptuously  to  claim  the  merit  of  having  contributed  any 
thing  towards  it,  yet,  does  not  this  astonishing  goodness  call  upon 
me,  by  God's  help,  to  '■  walk  in  all  the  commandments  of  the  Lord 
blameless  ?'  And  although  Christian  humility  must  make  every 
redeemed  sinner  acknowledge,  that  after  his  best  performances, 
he  is  '■  an  unprofitable  servant,'  yet,  does  it  exempt  him  from  ex- 
ertion, and  entitle  him  to  'stand  all  the  day  idle?'  My  former 
blindness  on  this  plain  and  easy  doctrine  of  our  religion  amazes 
me.  The  inseparable  union  of  saving  faith  and  good  works,  as 
cause  and  effect,  whilst  no  reliance  is  placed  on  the  latter  as  the 
efficient  means  of  our  salvation — this  depends  wholly  on  the 
atonement  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  benefits  of  which  are 
appropriated  to  ourselves  by  a  lively  faith,  the  gift  of  God's  Holy 
Spirit  working  in  us — is  at  this  moment  as  clear  to  my  appre- 
hension as  the  simplest  proposition  of  which  I  can  conceive," 
[though  it  were  friend  Aquila's  "  Two  and  two  make  four."] 
"  However  I  appreciate — and  I  do  most  highly — the  labors  of  pious 
men  employed  in  the  investigation  of  religious  truth,  it  is  a  cause 
of  rejoicing  with  me,  that  my  hearty  reception  of  this  doctrine 
is  derived  from  a  higher  authority,  the  fountainhead  of  know- 
ledge, the  unerring  word  of  God.  My  heart  bounds  within  me, 
that  I  can  add,  the  doctrine  is  sealed  upon  my  conscience  in  an- 
swer to  fervent,  importunate  supplication  at  the  throne  of  grace ; 


160  MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR. 

and  every  day  gives  me  new  evidence  of  its  being  the  basis  of 
every  system  of  doctrine  that  can  rightfully  claim  the  Gospel 
of  Christ  for  its  support." 

All  this  is  not  unlike  friend  Aquila's  ^^  solid  conviction''^  of 
the  truths  which  he  found  so  precious ;  and  if  this  letter  had 
been  addressed  to  him,  he  might  well  have  exclaimed,  with 
thankful  surprise,  "  The  gay,  the  popular,  the  worldly  Milnor  has 
become  a  zealous  convert  to  religion." 

"  0  how  comfortless  would  be  our  situation,  how  dismal  our 
prospect  for  the  future,  had  we  to  depend  on  any  thing  short  of 
the  right  arm  of  God  to  bring  us  salvation !  Yes,  thou  self- 
righteous,  presumptuous  Pharisee,  who  art  vaunting  thy  own 
performances  before  thy  fellow-men,  tell  me,  durst  thou  do  so  in 
the  retirement  of  thy  closet,  and  to  thy  God  ?  Dost  thou  ever 
pray  ?  If  so,  wherefore  this  unnecessary  trouble  ?  But  dost  thou 
in  secret  acknowledge  thy  infirmities,  and  ask  divine  assistance ; 
while,  before  men,  thou  disolaimest  both  ?  Strange  inconsis- 
tency !  Tremendous  infatuation !  Verily,  unless  thou  art  brought 
down  from  thy  towering  imaginations,  and  humbled  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus,  and  unless  thou  acknowledge  to  the  world  that  thy  help 
is  laid  upon  One  that  is  mighty,  the  most  daring  profligate  might 
refuse  to  exchange  his  situation  for  thine.  Divine  truth  may,  at 
some  moment,  reach  his  heart,  and  subdue  his  love  of  sensuality 
and  pleasure.  But  thou  art  wise  above  knowledge ;  thou  art 
wrapped  in  an  impenetrable  cloud  of  arrogance  and  self-conceit. 
Thou  hast  darkened  counsel,  rejected  the  Saviour's  plan,  and 
made  a  system  for  thyself ;  forgetting  that  '  other  foundation  can 
no  man  lay,  than  that  is  laid,'  without  sinking  into  ruin  with 
the  tottering,  baseless  fabric  of  his  own  invention.  Yet,  the 
mercy  of  God  is  infinite,  and  a  timely  resort  to  it  may  prevent 
even  thee  from  feeling  how  '  fearful  a  thing  it  is  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  living  God.' 

"  Such,  I  have  thought,  were  I  a  commissioned  officer  of  God, 
would  be  my  address  to  those  self- worshipping  men  '  who,  profess- 
ing themselves  to  be  wise,  have  become'  such  'fools'  as  to  sub- 
tract from  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  gospel  plan  of  redemption,  and 
supply  '  a  cunningly  devised  fable '  of  their  own :  to  reject  vir- 
tually, if  not  confessedly,  the  merits  of  an  almighty  Saviour,  even 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  161 

an  incarnate  God,  by  the  substitution,  or  at  least  addition  of 
some  fancied  merits  of  their  own  as  necessary  to  salvation.  Ah, 
it  is  cursed  infidelity,  however  disguised ;  it  is  the  enmity  of  the 
carnal  mind  against  God,  that  produces  such  delusions.  In  the 
work  of  repentance,  wrought  by  God  upon  my  heart,  this  '  root 
of  bitterness '  has,  I  humbly  trust,  been  extracted  for  ever ;  and. 
now  my  prayer  to  God  is,  that  every  high  thought  and  vain^ 
imagination  may  be  laid  low,  and  that,  as  the  only  fit  prepara- 
tion for  an  entrance  into  that  '  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  peo- 
ple of  God,'  I  may  be  '  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,'  be 
'  sanctified^  by  divine  grace,  and  be  ^justified  in  the  name  of  our 
Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God.' 

"It  is  a  great  source  of  humble  praise  and  thankfulness  to 
Almighty  God,  that  he  has  led  me  to  love  and  obey  him,  or  to 
attempt,  in  some  sort,  to  do  so ;  that  he  has  endeared  to  me  the 
word  of  truth ;  that  he  has  opened  to  me  a  door  of  access,  in 
prayer  and  supplication,  through  the  blessed  Mediator ;  that  he 
has  revealed  to  my  mind,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  some  sense  of  par- 
doning grace  for  past  transgressions  ;  and  that  he  has  given  me  a 
humble,  but  firm  hope  in  the  promises  of  the  Gospel." 

The  remainder  of  the  letter  is  occupied  with  considerations 
calculated  to  guard  his  friend  and  himself  from  the  entangle- 
ments of.  business,  and  from  the  beguilings  of  pleasure ;  accom- 
modating to  these  dangers  the  language  of  Solomon,  when  speak- 
ing of  a  peculiar  class  of  perils,  "Can  a  man  take  fire  in  his 
bosom,  and  his  clothes  not  be  burned?  Can  a  man  go  upon  hot 
coals,  and  his  feet  not  be  burned?"  and  closing  with  this  reference 
to  a  future  improvement  of  the  means  of  Christian  steadfastness : 

"We  shall  find,  in  their  daily  use,  a  comfort  and  security,  that 
will  minister  to  our  souls'  peace,  and  arm  us  against  the  fiery 
darts  of  the  Evil  One,  and  against  all  the  efforts  of  his  followers 
to  seduce  us  from  the  love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord." 

Although  he  supposed  that  the  above  would  be  his  last  letter 
from  Washington,  yet,  on  the  evening  of  the  same  and  the  morn- 
ing of  the  next  day  he  wrote  another,  a  few  extracts  from  which 
will  close  the  account,  furnished  by  this  correspondence,  of  the 
development  of  his  religious  views  and  character. 

Mem.  Hilnor.  1 1 


162  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"March  6  and  7,  1813. — ^What,  another  letter?  Yes,  my 
friend;  but,  with  more  truth  than  the  announcements  of  our 
theatrical  gentry  import,  'positively  the  last  performance  in 
this  city.' 

"My  lameness,  thank  Grod,  nearly  removed,  my  accounts 
settled,  and  my  passage  taken  in  the  close  coach  for  Baltimore 
on  Monday  next,  I  shall,  with  divine  permission,  be  then  on 
my  homeward  way.  "What  pleasure  have  I  in  the  prospect 
of  a  permanent  reunion  with  my  family  and  friends  during  the 
residue  of  such  term  on  earth  as  Grod,  in  his  wisdom,  may  be 
pleased  to  allow  me.  0  may  he  grant  to  you  and  me,  when  we 
are  'ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  our  departure  is  at 
hand,'  that  complete  and  glorious  assurance  which  enabled  the 
great  apostle,  in  view  of  death,  exultingly  to  exclaim,  '  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  finished  my  course ;  I  have  kept  the 
faith:  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that 
day;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love  his 
appearing.'  Let  us  avail  ourselves  of  the  last  encouraging  as- 
surance, and  seek,  devoutly,  perseveringly  seek  to  be  of  the 
number  of  those  who  love  the  Lord's  appearing." 

"  In  my  former  communications  I  have  said  but  little  on  the 
awfal  subject  of  death;  but  much,  I  hope,  having  a  relation  to 
the  requisite  preparation  for  that  event.  The  truth  is,  that 
without  meaning  to  undervalue  the  solemn  incitements  to  duty, 
arising  out  of  the  denunciations  of  the  G-ospel  against  the  finally 
impenitent,  which  often  affect  me  with  deep  and  afflicting  anxi- 
ety, I  have  to  praise  Grod  that  he  has  brought  my  mind  to  a  real- 
izing sense  of  religion  rather  by  the  soothing  and  inviting  prom- 
ises than  by  the  soul-awakening  terrors  of  his  word.  I  feel  as 
if  I  must  love  my  Saviour  for  himself,  for  his  own  intrinsic 
excellence  of  character,  independently  of  his  love  to  me,  unde- 
serving as  I  know  myself  to  be  of  the  smallest  of  his  many 
favors.  But  when  I  look  into  my  past  life,  and  view  myself  the 
slave  of  sin  and  the  bond-servant  of  iniquity ;  living  at  the  full 
meridian  of  gospel  light,  yet  choosing  darkness  because  my 
deeds  were  evil ;  being  almost  without  a  sense  of  God's  righteous 
government,  and  of  my  accountability  to  him ;  and  offering  hira 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  16& 

external  worship,  the  service  of  the  lips,  while  my  heart  was  far 
from  him;  when  I  consider  that,  in  so  hopeless  a  condition,  his 
love  should  have  reached  even  me,  'the  chief  of  sinners,'  and 
given  me  a  comfortable  prospect  of  pardon  and  acceptance;  I 
find  abundant  cause  for  cleaving  to  him,  even  if  an  eternity  of 
punishment  did  not — as  assuredly  it  does — await  a  contrary 
course.  So  fully  do  I  feel  a  Saviour's  love  shed  abroad  in  my 
heart,  that  methinks,  though  a  dreadful  hell  did  not  await  ray 
desertion  of  him,  I  could  never  leave  or  forsake  him.  In  this 
view  of  the  '  constraining  love  of  Christ,'  the  terrors  of  the  law 
seem  absorbed  and  lost,  and  the  soul  contemplates  the  great  Je- 
hovah only  as  '  the  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffer- 
ing, and  abundant  in  goodness  and  truth,  kee;ping  mercy  for 
thousands,  forgiving  iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin.'  Aithough 
I  would  not  take  from  this  sublime  description  of  his  charactei 
the  remaining  essential  attribute  of  justice,  exhibited  in  the  con- 
cluding clause,  that  he  '  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty.,'  yet 
the  idea  which  I  wish  to  convey  is,  that  the  drawings  of  his  love, 
rather  than  the  threatenings  of  his  law,  have  been  the  means  of 
turning  my  heart  to  Grod. 

"Under  such  feelings,  how  do  an  attachment  to  life  and  a  fear 
of  DEATH  diminish  !  This  it  is  that  destroys  the  comeliness  of  all 
created  things,  and  disrobes  the  tyrant  of  his  terrors  whenever  he 
may  approach.  This  it  is  that  makes  us  see  the  mercy  of  God 
in  all  our  earthly  afflictions,  and  death  itself  to  be  but  the  pas- 
sage to  ever-enduring  happiness.  The  love  of  God  in  Christ  dis- 
arms him  of  his  sting,  and  robs  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death  of  all  its  horrors.  It  was  this  that  could  make  the  great 
apostle  say,  '  For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain ;'  and 
with  all  his  desire  of  usefulness  to  the  Church  on  earth,  and  of 
some  prolongation  of  his  life  for  that  purpose,  yet  to  acknowledge 
his  '  desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better.' " 

He  had  recently  been  reading  Lindley  Murray's  "  little  book, 
called  '  the  Power  of  Religion  on  the  Mind  in  affliction  and  retire- 
ment, and  at  the  approach  of  death ;' "  and  had  been  much 
affected  by  its  contents.  He  had  also  been  studying  "the  eloquent 
and  impassioned  sermons  of  the  late  President  Davies,  of  Prince- 
ton college ;"  and  gives  a  striking  extract  from  one  of  the  presii- 


164  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

dent's  letters  to  a  friend,  descriptive  of  his  feelings  on  a  supposed 
near  approach  of  death.  He  adds,  further,  some  extracts  from 
the  sermons,  of  great  interest ;  with  one  of  which,  and  a  few 
remarks  thereon,  he  closes  the  correspondence  with  Mr.  Bradford. 
This  last  extract  from  President  Davies'  sermons,  with  Mr.  Mil- 
nor's  remarks  thereon,  is  as  follows : 

"  Finally,"  says  the  President,  "  let  me  congratulate  my 
reverend  brethren  on  their  being  made  ministers  of  the  New 
Testament,  which  reveals  that  glorious  and  delightful  subject — 
'  Christ  crucified ' — in  full  light,  and  diffuses  it  through  all  their 
studies  and  discourses.  '  The  Lamb  that  was  slain,'  is  the  theme 
that  animates  the  songs  of  angels  and  saints  above ;  and  even 
our  unhallowed  lips  are  allowed  to  touch  it  without  profanation. 
Let  us  therefore  delight  to  dwell  upon  it.  Let  us  do  full  justice 
to  the  refined  morality  of  the  Gospel ;  let  us  often  explain  and 
enforce  the  precepts,  the  graces,  and  the  virtues  of  Christianity, 
and  teach  men  to  '  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  in  this 
world ;'  but  let  us  do  this  in  an  evangelical  strain,  as  ministers 
of  the  crucified  Jesus,  and  not  as  the  scholars  of  Epictetus  or 
Seneca.  Let  us  labor  to  bring  men  to  a  hearty  compliance  with 
the  method  of  salvation  through  Christ,  and  then  we  shall  find 
it  comparatively  an  easy  matter  to  make  them  good  moralists. 
Then,  a  short  hint  of  their  duty  to  God  and  man  will  be  more 
forcible  than  whole  volumes  of  ethics  while  their  spirits  are  not 
cast  in  the  gospel  mould." 

"  I  have  little  prospect,"  adds  Mr.  Milnor,  "  that  I  can  be  use- 
ful in  the  way  suggested ;  and  yet  I  wish  I  could  be,  for  I  think 
I  always  loved  my  fellow-men  ;  and  never  so  much  as  since  I  have 
convincingly  felt  the  love  of  Christ  on  my  own  soul.  The  thought 
of  being  instrumental  in  saving  one  soul  out  of  hell  besides  my 
own,  would  be  more  to  me  than  the  wealth  of  the  Indies." 

This  letter,  as  a  whole,  furnishes  a  fit  close  of  the  series  to 
which  it  belongs.  Mr.  Milnor's  remarks  on  death,  and  his  refer- 
ence to  President  Davies'  feelings  in  view  of  its  "supposed  near 
approach,"  were,  as  we  shall  see,  sweetly  illustrated  in  his  own 
case,  in  the  year  1825.  His  experience,  too,  in  being  drawn  to 
Christ  by  love  rather  than  driven  to  him  by  terror,  famished  the 
key-note  to  the  harmony  of  his  subsequent  preaching  of  the 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  165 

Gospel.  He  delighted  in  winning  souls  to  heaven  by  the  love  of 
Christ,  more  than  in  terrifying  them  from  hell  by  the  thunders 
of  wrath.  And  it  is  probable  that  every  faithful  preacher  of 
Christ,  when  he  comes  to  proclaim  the  Saviour  to  others,  un- 
studyingly  follows  the  course  of  his  own  experience  under  the 
work  of  conversion.  John's  preaching  was  fullest  of  love  ;  Paul's 
of  light ;  James's  of  practice  ;  and  Peter's  of  warning  and  con- 
firmation  for  the  brethren.  His  last  extract,  moreover,  from 
President  Davies,  shows  that  a  radical  change  had  taken  place  in 
his  own  theological  system,  as  well  as  in  the  temper  of  his  heart. 
Formerly,  he  used  to  put  morals  before  the  Gospel,  and  even  as 
a  substitute  for  it,  while  yet  he  never  reached  a  morality  which 
was  more  than  superficial  and  earthly ;  but  now,  he  had  learned 
to  put  the  Gospel  before  morals,  not  because  morality  is  useless, 
but  because  he  had  found  in  the  Gospel  the  power  of  God  for 
producing  such  morals  as  live  in  heaven.  And  finally,  his  closing 
remarks  on  that  extract  prove  that  his  mind  was  already  ripe 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry  of  reconciliation.  His  last  words 
breathe  the  true  spirit  of  Christ  and  of  Paul,  and  of  every  largely 
successful  preacher  of  the  Cross:  "The  thought  of  being  instru- 
mental in  saving  one  soul  out  of  hell  besides  my  own,  would  be 
more  to  me  than  the  wealth  of  the  Indies." 

Allusion  was  made,  some  time  since,  to  several  letters  to  Mrs. 
Milnor  and  others,  written  during  the  progress  of  the  foregoing 
correspondence,  and  containing  passages  of  interest  in  their  bear- 
ing on  this  period  of  Mr.  Milnor's  life.  Those  to  Mrs.  Milnor  in 
particular,  as  breathing  intense  desires  for  her  salvation,  furnish 
the  best  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of  his  conversion.  A  few 
of  these  passages,  therefore,  will  now  be  given ;  and  with  them 
will  close  the  view,  proposed  to  be  taken,  of  the  work  of  grace  in 
his  heart,  as  presented  in  his  own  prolonged  account.  The  letters 
to  his  wife,  from  which  extracts  have  already  been  given,  spoke 
mainly  of  external  conformity  to  the  ordinances  of  the  Church. 
Those  from  which  passages  are  now  to  be  furnished,  say  little 
on  those  subjects,  but  abound  in  thoughts  calculated  to  awaken 
her  mind,  and  to  lead  her  to  an  immediate  turning  unto  God. 

"  Jan.  30,  1813. — Do  you  begin  to  feel  the  power  of  religioil 
upon  the  heart  ?     Do  you  ever  dare  to  hold  communion  with  youl 


166  MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR. 

Saviour  in  the  privacy  and  stillness  of  your  chamber  ?  Do  you 
find  pleasure  and  consolation  in  reading  the  sacred  book  of  God  ? 
Oh,  it  is  to  the  true  Christian  a  most  invaluable  treasure  of  know- 
ledge and  of  comfort ;  and  if  my  heavenly  Father  enables  me  to 
overcome  the  seductions  and  temptations  of  a  wicked  world,  I 
will  regulate  my  faith  and  my  practice  by  its  blessed  doctrines 
and  precepts.  I  am  covered  with  shame  and  remorse  at  my  past 
inexcusable  folly  and  neglect.  Boundless  riches  of  grace  before 
me,  and  I  so  poor,  and  needy,  and  miserable,  and  naked !  A  gar- 
den, abounding  in  every  variety  of  spiritual  pleasure,  so  near  me, 
and  I  roaming  in  pursuit  of  the  gilded  but  perishing  vanities  of 
this  world !  "What  madness  !  What  infatuation  !  But,  thanks 
be  to  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  this  winter  has  been 
to  me  a  precious  winter  ;  and,  since  I  left  you,  almost  every  day 
has  given  me  new  cause  to  adore  and  magnify  the  goodness  of 
God  in  opening  my  eyes  to  a  view  of  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of 
sin ;  of  the  absolute  want  of  personal  merit  in  myself,  and  of 
any  ability  to  save  myself;  of  the  astonishing  display  of  divine 
mercy  in  the  gospel  scheme  of  salvation ;  and  of  my  duty  rever- 
ently and  gratefully  to  accept  its  beneficent  terms." 

"  Give  your  mind  to  the  contemplation  of  this  all-important 
subject.  I  will  pray  daily  for  you,  as  for  myself,  that  we  may 
each  receive  the  openings  of  divine  illumination.  Only  rernem- 
ber  one  thing,  God  requires  the  heart,  the  ivhole  heart,  to  be 
surrendered  to  him ;  and  when  this  is  done,  he  will  change  it, 
regenerate  it,  wash  it  from  every  defilement,  and  prepare  it  for 
its  final  state  of  perfect  happiness." 

"  Feb.  12,  1813. — -From  the  brevity,  infrequency,  and  reserve 
of  your  letters  to  me  this  winter,  I  conclude  that  those  with 
which  I  occasionally  trouble  you,  afford  you  but  little  pleasure." 
[They  had  not,  like  those  of  the  previous  winter,  abounded  in 
pleasant  details  of  gay  life  in  Washington.  The  truth  was,  as  he 
goes  on  to  say,]  "  The  experiment  has  been  long  tried  of  making 
a  compromise  between  religion  and  the  world.  I  find  it  will  not 
do ;  and  if  I  am  strengthened  by  divine  grace  to  maintain  my 
resolution,  I  am  determined  to  abstract  myself  as  much  as  possi- 
ble from  the  haunts  of  pleasure.  All  associations  inconsistent 
with  the  innocence  and  purity  at  which  I  desire  to  aim,  must  by 


.'HELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  167 

me  be  laid  aside,  because  the  book  of  God  and  the  teachings  of 
his  Holy  Spirit  direct  such  a  course  of  self-denial  as  absolutely- 
necessary  to  a  soul  resolutely  bent  on  the  cultivation  of  the  Chris- 
tian life,  0,  my  dear  Ellen,  can  you  not  be  my  companion  and 
'  help-meet '  on  the  way  to  heaven  ?  Thitherward  all  my  desires 
and  wishes  tend.     Come  with  me,  my  best  earthly  friend. 

"  I  doubt  not  your  willingness  to  renounce  the  gayeties  of  life. 
In  these  you  have  hitherto  little  mixed.  In  this  respect,  I  have 
abundantly  more  to  answer  for  than  you.  But,  my  love,  you 
must  do  more  than  this.  You  must  not  talk  of  intending  to  be 
serious.  Consider  the  brevity  and  uncertainty  of  life,  and  the 
awful  consequences  of  dying  in  an  unconverted  state.  '  Noio  is 
the  accepted  time ;  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.'  Now,  if  we 
call  on  the  blessed  Saviour,  he  will  hear  our  voice,  and  grant  our 
humble  supplications.  0  let  us  see  in  its  proper  light  the  de- 
formity of  sin.  It  was  that  which  nailed  our  bleeding  Lord  to 
the  accursed  tree.  It  is  that  which  now  separates  us  from  him, 
and  prevents  these  cold  and  flinty  hearts  from  breaking  out  in 
rapturous  strains  of  love  and  praise  for  such  an  astonishing  dis- 
play of  grace  and  mercy  to  a  perishing  world.  Shall  he  have 
bled  and  died  for  us  in  vain  ?  Assuredly  this  will  be  the  case,  if 
we  refuse  to  accept  the  terms  proffered  in  the  Gospel.  "What 
are  they  ?  A  turning  unto  God  by  faith  in  Christ,  and  repent^ 
ance  for  past  transgressions ;  and  even  these  things  are  not  ex- 
pected to  be  done  by  us  in  our  own  natural  strength :  divine 
assistance  is  promised  to  every  humble  penitent.  Christ's  all- 
sufficient  grace  will  never  be  withheld  in  time  of  need.  No 
matter  what  have  been  our  offences,  though  they  be  red  like 
scarlet  or  crimson,  he  will  make  them  white  as  snow.  He  re- 
quires nothing  on  our  part  but  the  surrender  of  ourselves  into 
his  hands,  as  a  faithful  Shepherd,  who  never  abandons  his  flock. 
Neither  does  he  expect  us  to  come  to  him  in  a  state  of  holiness : 
he  knows  our  infirmities,  and  the  natural  depravity  of  our  hearts. 
We  are  to  approach  the  footstool  of  sovereign  mercy  just  as  we 
are,  owning  ourselves  sinners  by  nature,  and  sinners  by  practice ; 
giving  up  every  claim  of  self-righteousness  or  self-dependence, 
and  relying  wholly  upon  him  to  make  us  what  he  would  have  us 
to  be.    Be  persuaded,  my  Ellen,  to  read  the  Scriptures,  especially 


168  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  New  Testament ;  and  try  to  lay  hold,  by  faith,  of  the  gracious 
promises  which  there  abound.  Doubt  not  the  love  of  the  adora- 
ble Saviour.  By  his  Spirit,  he  will  fan  the  fading  embers  of  piety 
in  your  heart  into  a  flame  of  glowing  devotion ;  and  you  will  find 
a  pleasure,  and  take  an  interest  in  the  exercises  of  public  and 
private  worship,  such  as  you  never  before  experienced.  I  am 
awfully  convinced,  that  if  we  are  not  finally  saved,  it  will  be  our 
own  fault ;  for  God  has  put  all  the  means  immediately  within 
our  reach.  Let  us  cordially,  and  with  full  purpose  of  heart, 
make  use  of  them.  Neither  let  us  be  ashamed  of  assuming  the 
Cross  of  Christ.  I  mean  not  by  putting  on  any  affectation  of 
extraordinary  sanctity — that  was  the  vice  of  the  Pharisees,  which 
Christ  so  severely  reprehended — no,  let  our  faith  and  piety  be 
evinced  by  the  holiness  of  our  lives ;  by  attending  regularly  on 
public  worship  ;  by  joining  in  the  ordinances  of  the  church  ;  by 
reading  attentively  the  word  of  Grod,  which  contains  the  message 
of  eternal  life  ;  by  charity  and  kindness  to  our  fellow-men ;  by  a 
renunciation  of  all  sinful  pleasures ;  and,  dare  I  venture  to  sug- 
gest it  ?  by  family  prayer.  These  things  will  recommend  us  to 
the  favor  of  our  heavenly  Father " — [a  remnant  of  his  olden 
phraseology  still  cleaving  to  him^  which,  a  month  later,  he  would 
have  cast  away  as  a  filthy  rag  of  self-righteousness] — "and 
though  a  gainsaying  world  may  sneer  at  our  course,  we  shall  yet 
have  inward  peace,  and  the  hope  that  '  we  may  die  the  death 
of  the  righteous,  and  that  our  last  end  may  be  like  his.' 

"0  do  not  give  me  a  cold  answer,  in  a  single  sentence,  to 
these  well-meant  suggestions.  Lay  them  to  heart.  Take  up 
this  letter  a  second  and  a  third  time,  and  then  tell  me  unreserv- 
edly your  feelings.  If  I  did  not  love  you  most  sincerely,  I  would 
not  write  thus  to  you.  If  I  had  not,  in  a  measure,  felt  the  grace 
of  God  on  my  own  heart,  I  should  not  dare  to  invite  you  to  seek 
after  a  change  of  yours.  My  attainments  are  infinitely  small, 
but  I  have  '  laid  my  help  upon  One  who  is  mighty  to  save,'  and 
who  will '  save,  to  the  uttermost,  all  who  come  unto  God  through 
him.'  I  solicit  you  to  do  the  same  ;  and  then  there  is  no  danger 
but  that,  persevering  in  the  ways  of  his  appointment,  we  shall 
spend  a  happy  life,  so  far  as  it  is  attainable  in  this  vale  of  tears, 
and  a  happier  eternal  life  in  the  Paradise  of  God." 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  169 

The  only  remaining  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor  from  which  we  shall 
quote,  was  dated, 

"  Feb,  27,  1813. — If,"  says  he,  "  the  cause  of  your  increased 
reluctance"  to  write  "  arises  from  a  secret  dislike  to  the  serious 
tenor  of  my  letters  this  winter,  it  would  grieve  me  much  more" 
than  if  it  were  found  in  your  mere  want  of  fondness  for  the  pen. 
"  For,  as  I  wish  you  to  be  a  partaker  with  me  in  every  earthly 
enjoyment,  so  do  I  most  ardently  desire  that  we  may  be  joint 
participants  in  that  happiness  which  is  laid  up  for  the  righteous 
in  the  world  to  come.  Every  day  enamours  me  more  and  more 
with  the  beauties  and  consolations  of  religion.  It  has  been  the 
pleasure  of  Grod  to  turn  my  heart  to  it  with  increased  ardor,  and 
to  cheer  me  with  the  prospect  of  that  great  '  recompense  of  re- 
ward,' which  has  been  purchased  for  us  by  the  atoning  blood  of 
the  dear  Redeemer,  on  whose  merits  only  do  I  desire  to  rely  for 
every  hope  of  future  blessedness.  There  is  no  enthusiasm,  no 
delusion,  in  these  enlivening  prospects.  They  are  founded  on  the 
immutable  promises  of  God  in  the  word  of  truth,  and  are  of 
more  value  than  all  the  riches,  and  honors,  and  pleasures  of  an 
unsatisfying  world.  My  future  life  must,  therefore,  be  conformed, 
so  far  as  weak  and  wavering  human  nature  wiU  permit,  to  the 
rules  of  the  blessed  Gospel.  All  other  things  must  be  held  sub- 
ordinate to  this  ;  and  you  too,  my  endeared  partner,  must  arouse 
your  slumbering  affections,  take  up  your  cross,  and  follow  after 
Christ." 

Perhaps  God  was  then  teaching  her  to  do  what  her  husband 
so  earnestly  urged,  and  thus  her  neglect  of  writing  may  have 
had  no  other  than  its  old  cause. 

The  other  contemporaneous  letters,  to  which  allusion  has  been 
made,  were  addressed  to  Bishop  "White  and  the  Rev.  Jackson 
Kemper,  the  latter  an  assistant  minister  in  the  parish  of  which 
the  bishop  was  rector.  From  those  to  the  latter  a  few  extracts 
are  subjoined. 

"  Feb.,  1813. — Rev.  and  dear  sir,  I  write  to  you  confidentially 
as  a  friend,  and  most  seriously  and  respectfully  as  an  ambassador 
of  God,  and  one  of  those  appointed  to  minister  among  us  in  holy 
things.  It  is  on  a  subject  upon  which,  though,  in  the  Laodicean 
state  of  too  many  among  us,  it  may  be  unusual  for  individuals 


170  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  make  their  feelings  known  to  you,  yet,  if  I  rightly  apprehend 
the  measure  of  your  zeal  in  the  cause  of  religion  and  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  a  disclosure,  whenever  made  in  sincerity  and  from 
right  motives,  will  be  properly  appreciated,  and  receive  its  merited 
attention.  Religion  has,  in  a  vague  and  unsettled  manner,  af- 
fected my  mind  occasionally  from  my  earliest  recollection.  Some- 
times it  has  warmed  and  animated  my  heart.  Sometimes  I  have 
been  involved  in  speculations  calculated  to  lessen  its  effect  as  the 
governing  principle  and  rule  of  life  and  conduct ;  and  sometimes, 
by  subtracting  from  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  Christianity,  I  have 
weakened  its  divine  authority  and  made  it  a  mere  system  of 
morality,  which  the  human  mind,  limited  as  it  is,  might  have 
been  competent  to  frame  without  the  intervention  of  the  wisdom 
of  the  Most  High,  or  the  sufferings  and  death  of  his  blessed  Son. 

"  In  the  providence  of  God,  I  have  had  my  mind  drawn  to 
this  interesting  subject  in  a  way  which  I  have  never  before  ex- 
perienced." 

He  then  proceeds  to  a  brief  account  of  the  progress  of  his 
change,  coincident  with  that  already  laid  before  the  reader  in  the 
extracts  from  his  letters  to  Mrs.  Milnor  and  his  friend  Bradford; 
after  which  he  adds, 

"  I  do  not  state  these  things  to  you  boastingly.  '  God  forbid 
that  -I  should  glory,  save  in  the  Cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 
My  heart  tells  me  that  I  have  nothing  to  boast  of  It  is  of  the 
goodness  of  my  heavenly  Father  that  my  eyes  have  been  partially 
opened,  and  I  rely  wholly  upon  his  all-sufficient  grace  to  enable 
me,  '  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind,  to  press  towards 
those  things  which  are  before — ^towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.'  " 

Then  follows  a  proposal  to  present  himself  for  Confirmation 
and  the  Lord's  supper,  at  the  first  convenient  opportunity  after 
his  return  to  Philadelphia ;  to  which  he  subjoins, 

"  I  am  suitably  aware  of  the  awful  responsibility  of  such  a 
measure ;  but  entering  upon  it,  as  I  trust,  under  the  direction  of 
God's  word  impressed  by  his  Spirit  upon  my  heart,  with  a  con- 
firmed faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  his  atonement  for  the 
sins  of  a  lost  and  ruined  world,  and  in  the  gracious  promises  of 
his  Gospel,  on  them  will  I  depend  for  the  performance  of  the 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  171 

duty,  and  for  aid  to  follow  it  by  a  corresponding  obedience  to  the 
commandments  of  God  in  my  subsequent  life  and  deportment. 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  pardon  this  egotism.  It  is  an  observa- 
tion of  the  great  Lord  Bacon,  that  'the  communicating  of  a 
man's  self  to  his  friend,  worketh  two  contrary  effects ;  for  it  re- 
doubleth  joys,  and  cutteth  griefs  in  half;  arid  there  is  no  man  that 
imparteth  his  joys  to  his  friend,  but  he  joyeth  the  more  ;  and  no 
man  imparteth  his  griefs  to  his  friend,  but  he  grieveth  the  less.' 
Such  is  the  only  apology  I  now  offer  for  opening  my  mind  to  you, 
whom  I  desire  to  consider  not  merely  in  the  formal  relation  of 
my  spiritual  instructor,  but  in  the  still  more  tender  one  of  a 
friend  and  brother  in  Christ." 

The  rest  of  the  letter  is  occupied  in  requesting  Mr.  Kemper's 
"  counsel  and  assistance  in  his  future  course,"  particularly  in  the 
selection  of  works  for  a  practical  religious  library,  and  in  rejoic- 
ing anticipations  of  a  speedy  return  to  his  family,  and  the  privi- 
leges of  the  Church.  To  this  letter,  Mr.  Kemper  returned  the 
answer  formerly  noticed  in  the  correspondence  with  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, after  which  Mr.  Milnor  addressed  him  a  second,  dated, 

"  Feb.  27,  1813. — I  thank  you  sincerely,  my  dear  sir,  for 
your  kind  and  affectionate  letter,  and  cordially  accept  it  as  a 
pledge  of  our  union  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  For  myself,  I  can 
promise  but  little.  Every  day  furnishes  new  evidence  to  my 
mind  of  the  necessity  of  abandoning  self-confidence,  and  of  placing 
my  reliance  upon  Him  only  who  is  '  mighty  to  save.'  Since  my 
attention  has  been  turned  with  more  closeness  than  heretofore  to 
the  interesting  concerns  of  religion,  the  dangerous  hinderances 
with  which  I  meet  to  the  Christian's  progress  in  holiness  have 
filled  me  with  apprehensions,  such  as,  in  my  recent  state  of  self- 
security,  were  wholly  unknown  to  me."  "I  entreat  your  prayers 
that  I  may  be  succored  by  the  aids  of  divine  grace,  so  that  I  may 
fall  '  into  no  sin,  neither  run  into  any  kind  of  danger.' 

"  I  rejoice  at  the  intimations  given  in  your  letter,  of  an  in- 
creased concern  in  some  of  our  members  about  their  immortal 
souls,  and  pray  God  that  it  may  manifest  itself  in  an  open  pro- 
fession of  religion  on  the  part  of  many.  How  strange,  that  we 
should  be  ashamed  to  be  known  as  Christ's  real  disciples  !  Yet 
I  speak  both  from  observation  and  from  experience,  when  I  say, 


172  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

that  a  fear  of  this  world's  censure  and  criticisms,  and  of  an 
abridgment  of  its  pleasures,  deters  many,  who  are  not  without  a 
respect  for  religion,  nor  without  occasional  alarms  in  their  con- 
sciences for  their  want  of  conformity  to  it,  from  openly  acknow- 
ledging themselves  the  followers  of  Christ.  Even  at  this  mo- 
ment, with  all  my  strong  desires  after  a  saving  interest  in  his 
merits,  and  resolutions  to  embrace  every  means  of  grace  which 
his  goodness  has  provided,  the  tempter  often  assails  me  with  such 
suggestions.  A  loss  of  business,  arising  from  more  scrupulous- 
ness in  its  selection  ;  a  loss  of  acquaintance,  proceeding  from  the 
same  cause ;  a  relinquishment  of  some  long-established  schemes 
of  pleasure ;  the  world's  scorn,  and  evil  imputations ;  a  dread  of 
singularity,  and  a  numerous  train  of  similar  difficulties,  are  pow- 
erful in  weakening  good  determinations,  and  in  diverting  the  mind 
from  '  the  one  thing  needful.'  And  yet,  when  rightly  viewed, 
some  of  these  have  no  foundation ;  and  with  respect  to  others, 
religion  would  be  valuable,  independently  of  its  holier  ends,  if  its 
only  effect  were  to  destroy  an  ill-judged  fondness  for  many  things 
alike  unprofitable  both  for  this  world  and  for  that  which  is  to 
come.  But  when  considered  in  relation  to  our  duties  to  God,  as 
the  great  author  of  our  existence,  and  in  relation  to  ourselves  as 
rebels  against  his  divine  authority,  yet  reconciled  to  him  and 
freely  pardoned  through  the  sacrifice  of  his  Son,  how  insignificant 
appear  all  other  things  compared  with  '  the  excellency  of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,'  and  an  assurance  of  an 
interest  in  his  blessed  atonement !  Here,  by  his  gracious  aid, 
WILL  I  TAKE  UP  MY  REST ;  iu  all  my  weakness  relying  upon  his 
strength,  and  in  the  midst  of  trials  and  temptations  depending 
wholly  upon  him,  who  has  promised  that  he  '  will  not  suffer  us 
to  be  tempted  above  that  we  are  able  to  bear.'  " 

Such,  then,  viewed  in  the  light  of  his  private  journals  and  of 
his  own  letters  at  the  time  and  since,  was  that  eminent  work  of 
grace  in  his  heart  which — after  long  years  of  indulgence  in  the 
dream  of  a  universal  salvation,  in  "a  mischievous  conceit  of  the 
merit  of  human  works,"  or  of  man's  virtual  sufficiency  to  save 
himself,  and  in  a  strenuous  warfare  against  evangelical  truth  in 
general  and  Calvinism  in  particular — the  Holy  Spirit  accom- 
plished in  the  once  unbelieving  and  worldly  subject  of  this  me- 


RELIGIOUS  CHANGE.  173 

moir.  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  process  had  its  beginning 
during  his  congressional  career,  and  that  it  might  be  traced 
to  particular  incidents  lying  within  that  period  of  his  life ;  but 
our  researches  have  shown  that,  in  reality,  it  dates  from  a  point 
much  further  back  in  his  history.*  It  is  plain  that  his  first  step 
towards  the  truth,  under  the  divine  leadings,  was  taken  soon  after 
the  receipt  of  his  friend  Bolton's  pungent  letters,  during  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  married  life.  He  began  his  course  by  resolving 
to  search  the  Scriptures,  that  he  might  see  whether  they  taught 
his  creed  of  a  universal  salvation.  This,  however,  drove  him,  as 
a  preparatory  step,  to  examine  the  evidences  of  revelation,  the 
claims  of  the  Bible  to  divine  inspiration.  In  this  search,  he  seems 
to  have  acted  like  a  lawyer  only,  in  the  weighing  and  sifting  of 
testimony  ;  and  he  accordingly  came  to  no  more  than  a  lawyer's 
conclusion,  a  mere  faith  of  the  rational  understanding,  that  the 
Bible  is  God's  word.  He  now  proceeded  to  the  reading  of  its 
contents,  and,  in  doing  so,  soon  found  that  they  do  not  teach  his 
then  favorite  theory  of  the  salvation  of  all  men.  Still,  he  was 
not  prepared  to  receive  their  plain,  obvious  meaning ;  he  there- 
fore set  himself  to  his  protracted  labor  of  interpreting  them  in 

*  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Milnor,  in  his  "Recollections,"  has  the  following  remarks : 
"  There  have  heen  many  reports  respecting  the  instrumental  cause  of  his  con- 
version ;  none  of  them,  I  believe,  entirely  correct.  Some  of  the  circumstances 
related  very  probably  promoted  the  change ;  but  none,  I  think,  originated  it. 
One  incident  doubtless  made  a  powerful  impression.  On  one  of  his  visits  to 
Philadelphia,  during  his  term  in  Congress,  his  little  daughter  Anna  met  him, 
as  he  entered  the  house,  with  the  exclamation,  '  Papa,  do  you  know  I  can 
read  ?'  '  No,'  said  he ;  '  let  me  hear  you.'  '  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,'  were  the  words  which  she  happened  to  select.  A 
chord  in  his  heart  vibrated  in  harmony.  It  seemed  to  come  as  a  solemn  ad- 
monition. Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  God  was  teaching  him.  Still,  human 
agency  had  little  to  do  with  his  change.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  moving  within 
him,  and  gradually  drawing  him  from  worldly  thoughts  and  scenes  to  the 
retirement  of  his  closet,  where  he  could  commune  with  his  own  heart  and  be 
still." 

His  friend  Bradford  also,  in  his  "  Reminiscences,"  mentions  the  following 
incident.  "  Religious  subjects  were  evidently  interesting  to  him  for  a  long 
time  before  his  conversion,  though  he  was  not  distinctly  aware  of  it.  I  well 
remember  calling  upon  him  one  evening  at  his  house  in  Walnut-street,  when 
he  remarked,  that  he  had  just  read  '  The  Dairyman's  Daughter,'  and  had  wept 
over  it;  and  that  his  wife  had  read  it,  and  Patty  the  cook  had  read  it,  with 
similar  feelings." 


174  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

accordance  with  what  now  became  his  equally  favorite  theory 
of  the  merit  of  works,  of  man's  supposed  ability  to  save  himself. 
Thus  he  entered  his  long  warfare  against  the  truth — at  first  un- 
der the  Presbyterian  ministry  of  Linn  and  Wilson,  and  afterwards 
under  the  Episcopal  teachings  of  "White  and  Abercrombie,  Kem- 
per and  Pilmore.  In  that  warfare,  evidently,  he  was  now  and 
then  hit  by  the  arrows  of  light,  shot  by  the  hand  of  some  evan- 
gelical archer ;  so  that,  when  he  finally  entered  the  strife  of  the 
political  arena,  he  went  with  a  strange  mixture  of  light  and  dark- 
ness, and  with  the  risings  of  a  mysterious  interest  in  religion, 
which,  as  yet,  he  did  not  comprehend.  His  political  career  lay 
amid  scenes  agitated  by  the  awakening  of  the  savage  demon  of 
war  ;  at  fij-st  stirring  the  blood  of  the  nation  for  fight,  and  then 
maddening  that  blood  with  the  hot  passions  of  conflict.  Against 
all  this,  his  spirit  and  his  principles,  derived  perhaps  from  early 
association  with  the  peace-loving  Friends,  and  fostered  by  his  own 
peace-making  dispositions,  led  him,  with  unusual  vehemence,  to 
protest  on  the  floor  of  Congress.  Politics,  as  embodied  in  war- 
making  and  war- waging  measures,  became  more  and  more  the 
loathing  of  his  soul.  His  heart  sickened  at  the  exhibitions  which 
he  beheld,  of  strife,  intrigue,  and  party  bitterness.  His  difficulty 
with  Mr.  Clay,  though  met  and  averted  with  firmness  and  dig- 
nity, may  well  be  supposed  to  have  deepened  the  sentiment, 
already  settling  down  into  his  nature,  of  utter  aversion  to  politi- 
cal life,  as  distinguished  from  political  science.  In  the  longings 
of  his  spirit,  he  turned  away  towards  something  quieter  and  more 
loving,  as  better  fitted  to  a  right  discipline  of  mind  and  a  rational 
enjoyment  of  life.  His  first  thoughts  seem  to  have  been  of  union 
with  the  Church  by  compliance  with  its  outward  forms,  in  con- 
nection, it  is  true,  with  some  creditable  measure  of  his  former 
habits  of  easy  conformity  with  the  world.  Even  these  thoughts, 
however,  brought  him,  more  directly  than  ever,  into  secret  inter- 
course with  himself;  and,  ere  he  was  aware  of  it,  the  Holy 
Spirit  was  leading  him  down,  below  outward,  visible  forms,  into 
deep,  inner  experiences. 

Doubtless,  there  was  much  in  his  condition  favorable  to  some 
new  development  of  character.  A  man  in  Congress,  who  cannot 
grow  fond  of  its  business  and  excitements,  will  very  likely  be 


RELIGIOUS   CHANGE.  175 

driven  into  himself,  or  towards  some  form  of  life  different  from 
those  around  him.  This  tendency  in  Mr.  Milnor's  case  was  even 
peculiarly  strong.  Peacefully  and  domestically  attempered  as  he 
was,  he  was  yet  compelled  to  hear  war  thundering  almost  at  the 
gates  of  the  capitol,  and  politics  filling  every  place  with  its  din  of 
angry  words.  Home,  too,  with  its  endearments,  to  him  peculiarly 
dear,  was  far  away ;  and  even  the  fashionable  amusements  of 
"Washington,  however  agreeable  in  themselves  to  his  old,  long- 
cherished  tastes,  were  so  identified  with  the  actors  and  the  actings 
of  the  strifeful  scene  around  him,  that  he  grew  more  and  more 
sated  and  incapable  of  finding  in  them  what  his  earnest  longings 
asked.  Hence,  his  own  private  chamber  became  the  place  of  his 
frequentest  resort,  and  books  and  thought  his  pleasantest  entertain- 
ments. The  very  wearisomeness  of  the  outer  world  drove  him 
into  the  home  of  his  own  mind,  and  to  the  company  of  his  own  re- 
flections ;  and,  considering  the  current  of  his  thoughts  before  he 
entered  Congress,  it  is  not  surprising,  that  the  influences,  by  which 
he  was  now  surrounded,  led  him  into  meditation  on  those  aspects 
of  religion  which  had  hitherto  lain  nearest  his  view,  its  outward 
institutions.  But  there  the  train  of  tendencies  must  have  stopped, 
or  turned,  had  there  not  been  a  higher  impelling  and  guiding 
power.  That  power  was  not  absent.  Far  back  in  his  soul,  be- 
hind the  disgusts  and  longings  which  he  felt ;  deep  in  his  heart, 
underneath  the  movements  and  tendencies  to  which  he  yielded, 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  doing  his  own  proper  work.  While  the 
weary  congressman  was  thinkir;ig  of  union  ^yith  the  outward 
Church,  that  divine  Agent  opened  his  heart  to  a  sight  and  a  sense 
of  his  sins ;  uncovered  and  touched  the  sore,  which  self-delusion 
had  so  long  been  hiding ;  stripped  him  of  every  remnant  of  his 
old  self-righteousness ;  showed  him  his  utter  inability  to  save 
himself  by  any  work  or  merit  of  his  own ;  opened,  as  though  at 
his  left  hand,  a  door  into  the  world  of  woe,  through  which,  for  a 
moment,  came  up  low  but  deep  whisperings  of  the  wrath  and 
misery  which  he  had  deserved ;  and  then,  closing  the  dismal  pit, 
and  opening  golden  portals  at  the  right,  led  him  gently  on,  till 
he  stood  more  and  more  fully  in  the  light  of  the  love  of  Christ, 
and  felt  his  whole  soul  drawn  and  bound  to  the  glorious  Redeemer 
by  responsive  gratitude  and  praise :  in  a  word,  till  he  learned  to 


176  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

love  Jesus  for  his  own  sake  and  loveliness ;  and  religion,  because 
he  saw  in  it  the  spirit  of  Jesus,  and  found  in  it  so  deep  a  spring 
of  pure  and  heavenly  joy.  , 

This,  doubtless,  by  those  who  have  read  the  foregoing  pages, 
will  be  recognized  as,  though  a  condensed,  yet  a  true  history  of  the 
process  by  which  the  mind  of  Milnor  was  led  from  its  earlier 
darkness  and  hostility  to  the  truth,  to  its  later  light  and  love  for 
Him  who  is  the  truth.  He  knew  well  what  is  meant  by  deep 
convictions  of  sin  and  of  his  own  deservings  of  everlasting  death  ; 
and  yet  he  was,  in  an  eminent  sense,  drawn  to  Christ  by  the 
power  of  love.  He  felt  the  terrors  of  wrath ;  but  he  yielded  to 
"  THE  ATTRACTIONS  OF  THE  Cross."  In  his  casc,  the  most  power- 
ful teachings  of  the  Father  were  given  in  the  light  of  love ;  and 
in  the  light  of  love  the  offices  of  the  Son  stood  most  winningly 
manifest.  Hence,  the  character  into  which  he  was  formed,  was 
one  of  ardent  love /or  Christ,  and  of  realized  love /rom  Christ. 
He  felt  much,  because  he  had  received  much,  of  that  love  which 
is  unspeakable,  in  that  it  "  passeth  knowledge."  These  were  the 
earlier  rudiments  of  his  Christian  character  ;  and  they  came  out 
in  all  its  after-growth  and  combinations,  amid  the  changes  and 
the  trials  of  life.  He  was  from  the  first  a  loving  disciple ;  and 
all  his  further  activities  were  truly  the  "  labor  of  love." 


HIS  MINISTRY.  177 

PART   III. 

DR.  MILNOR'S  MINISTRY  FROM  1814  TO  1830. 


SECTION   I. 

Mr.  Milnor's  ultimate  dislike  of  legal  practice  was  more  a 
principle  than  a  sentiment,  as  his  distaste  for  political  life  was 
rather  feeling  than  judgment.  He  loathed  political  life,  because 
he  saw  it  steeped  in  so  much  strife  and  corruption  on  the  part  of 
others :  he  dreaded  the  practice  of  the  law,  because  he  saw  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  his  own  new-born  faith  and  hope.  He 
abandoned  political  life,  because  his  soul  was  sick  of  its  unprin- 
cipled demagoguism :  he  shrunk  from  the  renewed  practice  of 
the  law,  because  his  conscience  was  afraid  of  what  seemed  its 
almost  necessary  dishonesty.  He  could  have  loved  politics,  had 
politicians  been  all  fair  men  and  true ;  he  could  not  have  been 
satisfied  with  the  practice  of  the  law,  unless  the  very  principles  of 
that  practice,  as  too  generally  held,  had  been  reformed.  Hence, 
so  soon  as  he  found,  clustering  in  his  heart,  evidences  that  he  was 
indeed  become  a  new-born  child  of  G-od,  he  came  to  the  simul- 
taneous conclusions,  that  he  would  not  continue  in  political  life 
if  he  could,  and  that  he  could  not  resume  the  practice  of  the  law 
if  he  would.  His  heart  leaped  to  get  away  from  Congress ;  his 
judgment  dreaded  a  return  to  the  bar.  No  sooner,  therefore,  was 
the  great  question  for  eternity  settled,  than  uprose  a  subordinate 
question  for  time :  How  should  he  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
life?  Upon  what  new  course  of  action  and  of  usefulness  did 
duty  now  call  him  to  enter?  During  his  last  weeks  in  Wash- 
irigton,  a  dimly  traced  shadow  from  his  future  profession  seemed 
to  fall  upon  his  mind,  but  it  soon  passed  off;  and  it  was  not  till 
after  his  return  to  Philadelphia  that  it  reappeared.  There,  how- 
ever, its  reappearance  was  in  clear  and  distinct  outlines,  because 

Mem.  MUnor.  1 2 


178  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

he  stood  in  stronger  light  and  nearer  the  reality  from  which  the 
shadow  fell.  A  thought,  that  he  might  be  called  to  preach  the 
Gospel,  glided,  for  a  moment,  into  his  mind  while  at  the  capital, 
and  then  flitted  out  again ;  but,  when  he  reached  home,  it  came 
back  and  settled  with  him,  and  grew  into  a  big  conviction,  and 
got  to  be  imperative,  and  finally  ordered  him,  as  by  a  voice  from 
God,  to  go  his  way,  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  never  look 
back,  till  he  should  have  sowed  and  reaped — ^till,  from  the  harvest 
in  eternity,  he  could  remember  and  rejoice  over  his  going  forth 
to  the  work  in  time.  Upon  that  portion  of  his  life,  spent  in  obe- 
dience to  this  divine  behest,  we  are  now  to  enter.  It  commenced 
when  he  was  about  closing  his  fortieth  year. 

His  decision  in  favor  of  the  work  of  the  ministry  as  his  fu- 
ture profession,  seems  to  have  followed  very  closely  his  return  to 
Philadelphia,  and  his  temporary  resumption  of  legal  practice.  He 
left  Washington  the  9th  of  March,  1813,  and  on  the  3d  of  April 
"  waited  on  Bishop  White,  and  acquainted  him  with  his  deter- 
mination to  relinquish  the  profession  of  the  law,  and  with  the 
views  which  he  entertained  of  entering  on  the  study  of  divinity." 
On  the  5th,  he  announced  the  same  determination  to  his  friend 
and  pastor  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kemper,  and  on  the  7th  applied,  through 
Bishop  White,  to  the  standing  committee  of  the  diocese,  for  ad- 
mission as  a  candidate  for  orders ;  having  already,  as  he  remarks 
in  his  communication,  "  entered  upon  the  course  of  studies  pre- 
paratory thereto,  as  directed  by  the  House  of  Bishops." 

From  that  time  till  the  first  of  June,  he  was  engaged,  chiefly, 
in  arranging  his  temporal  affairs  with  a  view  to  his  retirement 
into  the  country  for  the  more  quiet  prosecution  of  his  studies ;  and 
on  the  2d  of  that  month  he  removed  his  family  to  Norristown, 
the  neighborhood  of  Mrs.  Milnor's  birthplace,  and  the  scene  of  his 
first  practice  in  the  law.  Here,  by  permission  from  his  bishop, 
be  soon  connected  with  his  preparation  for  the  ministry  the  labors 
of  catechist  and  lay-reader  in  St.  John's  church,  a  new  Episcopal 
parish;  evincing  thus  a  desire  to  do  some  good,  even  while  pre- 
paring for  a  fuller  measure  of  usefulness.  It  is  a  fact  of  some 
interest,  that  Norristown,  which  gave  him  his  partner  for  life 
and  the  mother  of  all  his  children,  became  also  the  scene  of  his 
earliest  labors,  both  in  the  law  and  iu  the  Gospel. 


HIS   MINISTRY.  179 

Very  soon  after  his  change  of  views,  and  his  intended  change 
of  profession,  became  known,  almost  in  the  first  weeks  of  his 
theological  study,  he  received  very  encouraging  testimony  to  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  and  to  the  value  set  on  his  expected 
labors.  This  testimony  came  in  the  shape  of  pressing  invitations 
to  two  of  the  most  important  parishes  in  our  Church  south  of 
Philadelphia :  one  in  Baltimore,  vacant  by  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Beasley  to  the  provostship  of  the  Pennsylvania  University ;  the 
other  in  Richmond,  just  built  on  the  site  of  the  theatre  which 
perished  in  the  melancholy  conflagration  of  a  previous  year. 
Each  of  these  parishes  wished  to  engage  his  services  in  advance ; 
the  one  was  willing  to  receive  him  as  a  lay-reader,  the  other  to 
wait  the  time  of  his  ordination.  He  however  respectfully  de- 
clined the  solicitations  of  both,  and  left  the  choice  of  his  place 
of  labor  to  be  decided  when  he  should  find  himself  ready  for  the 
field.  It  was,  indeed,  Bishop  White's  wish,  and  that  of  many 
friends  in  Philadelphia,  that  he  should  reserve  himself  for  a  place 
in  the  united  churches  of  his  native  city ;  and  to  a  compliance 
with  their  wishes  his  heart  was  evidently  inclined ;  but  even  on 
this  point  he  avoided  committing  himself  so  long  as  he  continued 
a  mere  student  of  divinity. 

His  duties  as  catechist  and  lay -reader  at  Norristown  were  of 
unexpectedly  short  continuance.  They  were  interrupted  during" 
the  summer  by  an  almost  fatal  sickness,  which  fell  first  on  him- 
self and  then  on  Mrs.  Milnor,  who  had  nursed  him ;  and  this 
sickness  was  followed  by  their  return  to  Philadelphia,  late  in 
the  autumn  of  the  year,  whiere  he  resumed  and  continued  his 
studies  till  the  period  of  his  ordinatipn,  August  14,  1814. 

Illustrative  of  this  whole  period  of  study,  from  the  spring  of 
1813  to  the  summer  of  1814,  several  passages  in  his  diary  and 
letters  must  here  be  inserted :  they  will  put  life  into  what  would 
otherwise  be  a  mere  dry  skeleton  of  events.  The  first  of  these 
passages  will  show  by  what  feelings  his  mind  was  agitated  when 
he  came,  amid  old  friends  and  associates  in  Philadelphia,  amid 
the  scenes  of  his  former  gayeties  and  the  clustering  of  his  former 
interests,  to  the  practical  task  of  publicly  announcing  his  total 
change  of  religious  views,  and  his  proposed  change  of  professional 
pursuits.     The  hold  of  fixed  habits  in  gay  society  upon  one  of 


180  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

its  cherished  votaries,  and  of  flattering  prospects  of  honor  and 
emolument  upon  one  of  their  favorite  candidates,  was  seldom 
stronger,  or  called  for  greater  firmness  of  soul  in  order  to  their 
breaking,  than  in  the  case  of  him  whose  character  and  course 
we  have  hitherto  been  tracing.  He  felt  deeply  the  power  of  the 
associations  by  which  he  was  begirt.  There  was  a  sacrifice  to 
be  made,  a  cross  to  be  taken  up,  and  he  realized  how  heavy,  to 
mere  nature,  they  were  to  prove ;  but  he  also  found  how  light, 
to  the  power  of  grace,  they  may  be  made,  and  rejoiced  in  giving 
up,  for  Christ's  sake,  all  that  forty  years  of  intense  existence 
had  made  most  attractive  to  his  heart.  He  writes,  in  his  diary, 
under  date  of 

"April  2,  1813. — The  impressions  of  religious  truth  made 
upon  my  mind  at  Washington,  have  continued  since  my  return ; 
and  the  suggestions  made  in  some  of  my  letters  to  Mr.  Bradford, 
with  respect  to  the  difficulties  of  my  profession,  have  recurred 
with  great  force,  in  consequence  of  the  resumption  of  my  pro- 
fessional pursuits.  So  many  cases  occur  not  to  be  reconciled  with 
that  profession  of  religion  which  I  feel  myself  called  upon  to 
make,  and  so  majiy  entanglements  and  distractions  are  connected 
with  all  its  pursuits,  that,  after  much  meditation  and  prayer  to 
God  for  divine  direction,  I  have  determined  on  a  relinquishment 
of  practice.  At  the  same  time,  while  it  has  pleased  Almighty 
God  to  point  out  this,  as  the  only  safe  course  for  me  to  pursue, 
he  has  also  directed  my  choice  to  the  ministry,  as  a  means  of 
being,  in  some  small  degree,  useful  during  the  residue  of  my 
days.  It  is  some  time  since  distant  prospects  of  this  sort  have 
glanced  across  my  mental  vision.  A  sense  of  my  unworthiness 
of  so  high  a  calling,  in  respect  to  the  qualifications  both  of  head 
and  of  heart,  has,  however,  soon  obscured  them;  until,  more 
recently,  an  abiding  impression  of  duty  has  pointed  me  to  the 
assumption  of  this  cross  as  on  my  part  indispensable.  My  de- 
cision, therefore,  can  be  no  longer  delayed.  I  resign,  I  trust 
cheerfully,  all  prospects  of  fame,  fortune,  and  worldly  pleasure, 
to  enlist  myself  as  a  soldier  under  the  Captain  of  my  salvation; 
and  trust  in  his  support  to  aid  me  in  every  trial  and  conflict  to 
which  this  measure,  so  strange  and  unexpected  to  my  friends, 
will  expose  me.     It  were  idle,  however,  to  conceal  either  from 


HIS  MINISTRY.  18] 

myself  or  from  others,  the  conflicts  through  which  my  mind  has 
passed  in  reaching  this  result.  The  natural  man  assents  not 
readily  to  sacrifices  of  wealth,  ambition,  style  of  living,  acquaint- 
ances, and  a  thousand  other  ligaments  which  tie  him  to  the  world 
and  its  enjoyments.  But,  through  God's  grace,  I  hope  to  over- 
come the  world,  and  willingly  to  relinquish  every  thing  that  may 
come  in  conflict  with  the  work  of  religion  in  my  own  heart,  or 
the  improvement  of  such  humble  means  as  the  Lord  may  vouch- 
safe me  of  being  useful  to  others. 

"  Nevertheless,  0  God,  let  me  presume  on  nothing  in  my  own 
strength.  Grant  me  the  all-sufficient  aids  of  thy  Holy  Spirit ; 
and  enable  me  thereby,  when  I  shall  have  laid  my  hand  to  the 
plough,  to  look  not  back,  but  to  follow  the  leadings  of  the  heav- 
enly Guide,  and  become,  if  not  a  highly  useful,  at  least  a  truly 
faitiiful  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of  Christ.  I  ask  it  in  his  name, 
and  for  his  blessed  merit's  sake.     Amen." 

He  evidently  felt  that  now,  of  a  truth,  he  was  at  the  great 
turning-point  of  his  life  ;  and  every  step  which  he  took  was  with 
much  pondering  of  his  way,  and  with  much  prayer  for  guidance. 
He  had,  some  time  before,  associated  with  himself,  as  law-partner, 
and  manager  of  his  business  while  he  was  in  Washington,  his 
nephew,  William  Milnor,  a  young  man  of  promise  in  his  profes- 
sion. To  thig  young  beginner  his  experience  and  patronage  were 
of  great  value ;  and  he  deeply  felt  the  painfulness  of  disappoint- 
ing the  hopes  which  his  relative  had  been  building  on  the  ground 
of  their  partnership.  The  trial  thus  brought  upon  him  quickened 
his  sensibility  to  all  his  other  trials,  and  drove  him  with  increas- 
ing earnestness  to  the  throne  of  grace.  On  the  evening  of  the 
day  on  which,  as  we  have  seen,  he  first  communicated  to  Bishop 
White  his  intention  to  devote  himself  to  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try, he  made  the  following  entry  in  his  diary.  His  written  prayer 
is  valuable  as  evincing  the  views  with  which  he  looked  forward 
to  his  new  profession. 

"  April  3,  1813. — In  the  evening  I  communicated  for  the  first 
time,  to  my  nephew  and  partner,  my  intention  to  give  the  whole 
of  our  practice  into  his  hands ;  and  expressed  to  him  the  regret 
which  I  could  not  avoid  feeling,  at  being  obliged  to  withdraw 
from  him  that  assistance  in  professional  duty  which  he  had  ex- 


182  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

pected  from  me  on  my  return  from  Congress.  He  expressed  his 
regret  at  the  change,  but  at  the  same  time  his  perfect  approba- 
tion of  the  motives  which  induced  it,  and  a  willing  acquiescence 
in  our  separation. 

"  I  have  other  crosses  and  trials  to  meet  in  fulfilling  my  in- 
tentions ;  but  the  Lord,  in  whom  I  trust,  and  whom  I  desire  to 
serve,  will  support  me  in  them  all,  if  I  steadily  maintain  my  faith- 
fulness towards  him. 

"  Yes,  blessed  God,  my  confidence  is  in  thee  only.  0  enable 
me  to  persevere  manfully  in  the  work  which  thou  hast  assigned 
me.  Enlighten  my  mind  with  a  knowledge  of  thy  truth,  and 
endue  it  with  ability,  when  the  time  shall  come,  to  communicate 
that  truth  to  others ;  and  0,  gracious  Father,  grant  that,  if  it 
should  be  thy  will  to  prolong  my  life  until  the  allotted  term  of 
preparation  for  the  ministry  of  thy  word  shall  elapse,  I  may  be 
enabled  to  preach  thy  Gospel  in  its  own  purity ;  and  that,  while 
I  warn  others,  I  may  not  myself  become  a  castaway.  Give  me 
solemn  views  of  the  immense  importance  and  responsibility  of  the 
oflice  on  which  I  purpose  to  enter.  Grant  me  the  refreshings  of  thy 
Spirit  from  day  to  day.  Open  to  me  more  and  more  the  mysteries 
of  thy  word ;  and  forbid,  merciful  God,  that  I  should  either  hold 
the  truth  in  unrighteousness,  or  in  any  manner  mistake  the  mean- 
ing and  intention  of  the  divine  oracles.  Grant  me  mental  activ- 
ity and  persevering  diligence  in  the  acquisition  of  religious  know- 
ledge ;  ability  profitably  to  digest  whatever  I  may  read  or  hear  ; 
and  both  the  disposition  of  heart  and  the  capacity  of  mind  to  ren- 
der all  my  attainments  beneficial  to  myself  and  others.  But,  0 
God,  in  a  more  special  manner  keep  me  constantly  and  fervently 
affected  with  love  for  thee  and  thy  dear  Son ;  fill  me  with  brighter 
and  more  evangelical  views  of  the  greatness  of  that  salvation, 
wrought  out  by  Him  for  perishing  sinners  ;  and  fix  indelibly  on 
my  mind  the  determination  to  know  only  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified.  May  the  great  atonement,  and  the  divine  character  of 
the  blessed  Saviour,  be  prorhinent  objects  of  my  daily  contempla- 
tions; and  may  I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord.  Strengthen  my  faith  in 
the  all-sufficiency  of  his  blood  and  cross  for  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ners ;  and  when  utterance  shall  be  given  in  his  righteous  cause. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  183 

0  enable  me  to  hold  him  forth  as  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
world,  in  such  a  manner  as  may  induce  many  to  accept  his  merits, 
to  exercise  a  lively  faith  in  him  as  a  Saviour,  and  to  renounce 
for  ever  the  filthy  rags  of  their  own  righteousness  for  that  wedding- 
garment  of  the  Lamb,  which  can  alone  qualify  them  to  be  guests 
at  the  marriage-supper  provided  for  the  redeemed  of  God  in  the 
blood  of  Christ." 

This  is  a  truly  appropriate  prayer  to  be  left  lying  on  record 
amid  the  trials  of  the  period  in  which  he  broke  from  the  entangle- 
ments of  human  law,  and  sought  seclusion  for  the  study  of  the 
divine  counsels.  Meditating  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry 
with  such  views  and  aspirations,  and  under  the  pressure  of  those 
alLconstraining  motives  which  his  spirit  felt,  his  subsequent 
abounding  usefulness  was  but  a  result  of  God's  faithfulness  to 
his  gracious  promises. 

At  the  time  of  his  entry,  April  5,  we  find  him  engaged  "  in  sec- 
ular concerns,"  but  not  without  mingling  therewith  an  effort  to 

do  good  to  his  friend  J S ,  whom  he  found  to  be  "feeling 

somewhat  after  religion."  He  also  records  an  account,  "  as  sin- 
gular as  it  was  pleasing,"  of  the  conversion  of  L M ,  "an 

emipent  lawyer  in  Baltimore,  advanced  in  years,  who  had  been 
equally  celebrated  for  his  powerful  eloquence  at  the  bar,  and  for 
his  notorious  sacrifices  at  the  shrine  of  Bacchus."  After  noticing 
this  man's  appearance  at  a  public  religious  meeting,  where  he 
engaged  in  exhortation  and  prayer,  in  a  manner  "  which  for  fervor 
and  sublimity  astonished  all  who  heard  him,"  the  adoring  diarist 
exclaims,  "  Thanlcs  be  to  God,  his  power  is  infinite.  He  shows 
mercy  where  he  will  show  mercy,  and  can  as  easily  convert  the 
fliaty  heart  of  the  oldest  and  most  obdurate  offender,  as  the  soft 
and  tender  one  of  the  most  willing  and  yielding  suppliant  at  the 
throne  of  grace.  Glory  be  to  God  for  the  riches  of  his  grace  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

Amid  the  incessant  activities  which  now  engrossed  him,  we 
hear  nothing  further  from  him  till  he  was  ready  to  leave  Phila- 
delphia for  Norristown.  He  then  felt  that  his  severance  from  the 
world,  so  far  as  outward  associations  were  concerned,  was  com- 
plete, and  was  enabled  to  look  back  upon  what  he  was  leaving 
without  a  sigh.     "  The  separation,"  says  his  diary  for  June  1, 


184  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  from  so  many  objects  of  attachment,  I  am  thankful  to  God,  has 
not  cost  me  many  pangs.  To  my  beloved  partner,  it  has  been  a 
more  severe  trial ;  but  her  mind  at  length  acquiesces  more  cheer- 
fully than  I  could  have  expected ;  and  when  once  we  shall  be 
quietly  seated  in  our  new  abode,  I  have  no  doubt  she  will  be 
better  pleased,  than  she  has  been  with  the  gayety  and  frivolity  of 
a  city  life." 

On  the  3rd  of  June,  he  was  busy  in  setting  their  new  abode 
in  order,  and  especially  in  arranging  the  furniture  of  his  study. 
He  found  that  abode  "  agreeable,"  and  that  study,  though  "  small," 
yet  "  airy  and  commodious ;"  and  having  taken  possession,  he 
proceeded  to  record  a  suitable  act  of  dedication,  in  which,  amid 
the  hallowing  strains  of  prayer,  he  consecrated  himself,  his  house- 
hold, and  his  little  study,  to  Him  whom  he  had  covenanted  to 
serve.  Bending  in  that  quiet  retreat  which  was  to  witness  his 
sacred  studies,  we  may  easily  conceive  with  what  fervor  h^ . 
poured  forth  his  heart's  dedicatory  act,  in  the  following  fervent 
but  chastened  strain. 

"Vouchsafe,  0  God,  thy  special  presence  and  direction  in  all 
the  exercises  in  which  I  may  here  from  time  to  time  be  occupied. 
Afford  the  aids  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  in  every  act  of  devotion,  that 
so  I  may  learn  to  pray  aright,  and  offer  thee  the  unadulterated 
homage  of  the  heart.  Open  thou  my  understanding,  that  I  may 
understand  the  Scriptures.  Chase  away  every  rising  doubt  in- 
cited by  the  subtlety  of  the  Tempter.  Banish  error,  unbelief,  and 
every  unhallowed  thought  from  this  place.  Teach  me  to  know, 
and  reverence,  and  love  thee  with  all  the  faculties  of  my  heart 
and  mind,  and  to  hate  sin  and  all  its  defilements  with  a  perfect 
hatred.  Cleanse  me  from  all  my  impurities,  keep  down  rebel- 
lious passions,  and  arm  me  with  strength  effectually  to  resist 
every  temptation  from  without  and  from  within.  I  desire,  0 
merciful  God,  to  consecrate  myself  unreservedly  to  thee  and  thy 
service.  But  I  am  humbled  and  abased  at  my  own  unworthiness 
of  the  least  of  thy  favors,  and  my  inability  to  make  thee  any  ade- 
quate return.  Yet,  through  Christ,  my  weakness  may  be  made 
strength,  and  the  imperfect  performances  of  an  imbecile  and  sin- 
ful creature  may  be  accepted  for  the  infinite  merit's  sake  of  the 
blessed  Redeemer.    For  his  sake,  then,  0  merciful  Father,  accept 


HIS  MINISTRY.  185 

of  me  and  mine ;  make  us  happy  in  the  smiles  of  thy  counte- 
nance here,  and  elevate  us  hereafter  to  the  joys  of  th^hea¥#ftl^ 
kingdom.  vr^^^fC^^  ^^^^ 

J/'^^S'      n?  THE 
"  '  Let  cares  like  a  wild  deluge  Game//    ^        "       iin^  c«  T  T*  V 

And  storms  of  sorrow  fall,        I/tT  'JiTT'y-&»*'*^ 

May  I  but  safely  reach  my  home,* 

My  God,  my  heav'n,  my  all. 


Mim"^^ 


There  shall  I  bathe  my  weary  soul 

In  seas  of  heavenly  rest, 
And  not  a  wave  of  trouble  roll 

Across  my  peaceful  breast.'  " 

Having  thus  appropriately  set  in  order  both  his  outer  and  his 
inner  house,  he  proceeded,  on  the  following  day,  to  settle  the 
course  in  which  his  daily  duties  should  proceed.  '  Though  con- 
stitutionally inclined  to  system,  he  had  yet  found  it  difficult  to 
reduce  either  the  labors  of  legal  practice,  or  "the  pursuits  of  legal 
study,  to  any  thing  like  invariable  rule.  He  felt  that  his  mind 
needed  stricter  discipline,  and  resolved,  at  this  important  crisis 
of  his  life,  to  make  an  effort  to  bring  it  under  the  power  of  fixed 
habits  of  thought  and  application ;  knowing  that  if  he  were  ever 
to  feel  the  benefits  of  such  a  discipline,  now  was  his  best,  if  not 
his  only  time  to  insure  them.     He  writes : 

"  June  4,  1813. — This  morning  we  commenced  our  new  plan 
of  living,  in  which  I  have  had  in  view  the  divesting  of  myself, 
as  much  as  possible,  of  secular  engagements  of  every  kind,  that 
so  my  theological  studies  may  be  pursued  without  distraction, 
and  my  heart  become  more  and  more  weaned  from  the  world,  and 
habituated,  by  divine  grace,  to  a  righteous,  sober,  and  godly  life 
before  God  and  my  fellow-men.  My  unsettled  affairs  in  Phila- 
delphia will  make  two  or  three  visits  of  business  necessary,  after 
which  nothing  of  importance  will  be  likely  to  withdraw  my 
attention  from  the  interesting  pursuits  in  which  I  desire  to  be 
exclusively  engaged.  The  varied  occupations  of  a  professional 
life,  in  which  a  thousand  things  called  for  immediate  attention 
as  they  occurred,  have  been  wholly  irreconcilable  with  any  settled 
plan  of  study.  But  it  will  now  be  necessary,  however  difficult, 
to  bring  my  mind  and  its  habits  under  a  strict  discipline ;  and 
for  this  purpose,  to  prescribe  to  myself  some  routine  of  study  and 


/A. 


186  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

employment  for  each  day.  I  propose,  for  the  present,  the  follow- 
ing course. 

"  Morning.  Rise,  if  possible,  at  or  before  5 ;  private  devo- 
tion ;  Greek,  composition,  or  other  writing ;  family  devotions ; 
BREAKFAST ;  Bible,  with  commentaries  ;  Church  history. 

"  Afternoon.  Dinner  ;  miscellaneous  reading  and  writing ; 
endeavor  to  read,  every  day,  one  sermon  of  some  eminent  divine. 

"  Evening.  Exercise  and  conversation  ;  family  devotions, 
with  occasionally  a  chapter  of  Scott's  Bible ;  private  devotions. 
Rest,  when  in  health,  to  be  limited,  if  practicable,  to  six  hours," 

Such  was  the  "plan  of  living"  which  he  prescribed  to  himself 
during  his  retirement,  and  which  he  followed,  while  his  retire- 
ment continued,  at  least  so  far  as  the  orderings  of  Providence 
^  permitted.     He  thus  refers  to  it,  in  his  entry  for 

"  June  19,  1813. — Since  the  above  note,  I  have,  as  far  as 
practicable,  conformed  to  the  plan  of  study  above  marked  out ; 
but  I  have,  in  the  interval,  been  obliged  to  go  twice  to  the  city — 
once  on  my  private  concerns,  and  again  to  be  present  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  state,"  diocesan,  "  convention,  which  was 
held  on  the  15th  inst." 

But  systematic  study,  in  connection  with  necessary  business, 
was  not  the  only  occupation  of  his  retired  life.  He  endeavored 
to  gain  some  practical  acquaintance  with  pastoral  duty.  Hence, 
he  not  only  engaged  as  lay-reader  and  catechist  in  St.  John's, 
Norristown,  but  also  availed  himself  of  his  vicinity  to  St.  Mary's, 
Warwick,  the  parish  church  of  the  Rev.  Levi  Bull,  a  cousin  of 
Mrs.  Milnor,  to  become  familiar  with  other  forms  of  parochial 
usefulness.     He  has  this  note,  under  date  of 

"  June  21, 1813. — I  have  just  returned  from  a  visit  to  Mr.  Bull, 
with  whom  I  spent  the  evening  of  Saturday,  and  the  whole  of 
Sunday.  Sunday  morning,  at  8  o'clock,  we  went  to  St.  Mary's 
church,  in  the  vicinity  of  Mr.  Bull's  residence  ;  and  found  a  con- 
siderable number  of  people  assembled  to  attend  a  prayer-meeting, 
which  is  held  during  the  summer  season  for  one  hour  before  the 
regular  service  of  the  morning  begins.  The  exercises  consist  of 
prayers  by  the  pastor  and  different  members  of  the  church,  offered 
extemporaneously,  and  accompanied  with  singing  and  a  short 
exhortation.     For  the  first  time  in  public,  I  was  induced,  at  Mr. 


X\ 


HIS  MINISTRY.  187 

Bull's  solicitation,  to  address  the  throne  of  grace.  I  felt  the  pres- 
ence of  that  God  who,  when  two  or  three  are  assembled  in  his 
name,  has  promised  to  be  in  the  midst  of  them ;  and  was  much 
refreshed  in  the  inner  man  by  the  various  services  of  the  forenoon, 
as  well  as  by  those  of  the  afternoon  at  Churchtown,  to  which 
place,  distant  eight  miles,  I  rode  with  Mr.  Bull." 

His  services  as  catechist  and  lay-reader  in  St.  John's,  com- 
menced July  11,  but  were  soon  interrupted  by  the  dangerous 
illness  of  which  he  speaks. 

"  Nov.  17,  1813. — Philadelphia.  The  interval  between  the 
date  of  the  last  memorandum  and  the  present  has  been  to  me  a 
very  interesting  one.  I  officiated  for  the  first  time  as  a  lay- 
reader,  on  Sunday,  the  11th  of  July  last;  and  a  few  days  after- 
wards went  upon  a  journey  with  my  brother-in-law,  Levi  Pawl- 
ing, Esq.  Our  object  was  to  pay  a  visit  of  friendship  to  Mrs. 
Johnston,  of  Franklin  county.  Pa.,  a  relation  of  my  wife ;  but  on 
arriving  at  her  house,  we  found  that  she  had  gone  for  her  health 
to  the  springs  at  Bath,  in  Virginia.  To  this  place,  being  only 
forty  miles  further,  we  concluded  to  follow  her.  We  did  so ;  but 
I  had  so  little  relish  for  the  amusements  of  the  place,  that  we  re- 
mained but  two  days,  and  then  set  out  on  our  return.  Our  jour- 
ney to  Bath  was  by  the  way  of  Reading,  Harrisburg,  Carlisle, 
and  Chambersburg.  We  returned  by  the  way  of  Martinsburg, 
Ya.,  Harper's  Ferry,  York,  and  Lancaster.  The  sedentary  life 
which  I  had  passed  at  Norristown,  had  unfitted  me  for  exercise 
of  so  constant  and  severe  a  kind  as  that  which  I  used  during  my 
fortnight's  absence  ;  and  the  consequence  was,  that  I  became  in- 
disposed on  my  way  home,  and  the  night  of  my  arrival  I  was 
taken  seriously  ill.  My  complaint  at  first  appeared  to  be  a  ner- 
vous debility  without  fever,  and  so  continued  for  a  fortnight, 
when  it  assumed  the  type  of  an  intermittent,  and  after  some 
time  was  accompanied  with  a  most  distressing  bowel-complaint, 
which  lasted  for  eight  weeks,  and  brought  me  to  the  verge  of  the 
grave.  Soon  after  I  became  convalescent,  Mrs.  Milnor  was  at- 
tacked with  the  same  complaints ;  and  when  apparently  recover- 
ing, relapsed  into  so  low  a  state  as  to  be  despaired  of  by  her  phy- 
sician and  friends.  Her  illness  lasted  about  the  same  time  as  my 
own.     But,  for  ever  praised  be  the  adorable  Giver  of  every  good 


188  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

and  perfect  gift — the  God  of  our  lives,  and  the  Saviour  of  our 
souls — '  though  he  has  chastened  us,  yet  he  hath  not  given  us 
over  unto  death.  We  shall  yet  live  to  praise  the  name  of  the 
Lord.' 

"  In  a  review  of  this  providence  of  Almighty  God,  I  desire  to 
be  humbled  under  a  deeper  sense  of  his  justice  as  well  as  mercy. 
That  my  sins  deserved  such  an  infliction  of  divine  correction,  I 
submissively  acknowledge  ;  that  I  am  wholly  undeserving  of  the 
sparing  mercy  which  has  continued  my  life  and  that  of  my  beloved 
partner,  I  most  seiisibly  feel ;  and  that  our  dear  children  have  been 
preserved  in  life  and  health,  is  a  cause  of  unceasing  thanlifulness. 
'  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  towards 
me  ?  I  will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord.' 

"  Since  the  recovery  of  Mrs.  Milnor  and  myself,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  great  desire  on  her  part  to  return  to  the  city,  and  a 
belief  on  my  own,  that  it  would  tend  to  the  advancement  of  my 
studies  and  to  my  growth  in  spiritual  improvement,  I  have  taken 
a  house  in  Tenth- street,  near  Arch,  into  which  I  have  now  re- 
moved my  family.  The  afflicting  dispensation  through  which  I 
have  passed,  and  my  beloved  Ellen's  long  and  dangerous  illness 
since,  have  interrupted  my  regular  plan  of  study ;  and  I  am  now 
only  about  to  resume  it.  God  grant  that  I  may  do  so  in  his  fear, 
and  with  a  sincere  desire  to  proceed  under  the  guidance  of  the 
,  Holy  Spirit ;  to  be  preserved  from  all  false  doctrines ;  to  advance 
in  piety  towards  God,  and  in  love  to  my  fellow-men ;  and  steadi- 
ly to  keep  in  view  the  blessed  Jesus,  as  '  the  Author  and  Finisher 
of  the  faith'  set  forth  in  the  Gospel." 

The  illness,  of  which  he  has  given  us  the  foregoing  account, 
was  the  same  with  that  thus  mentioned  by  his  friend  Bradford  in 
his  "  Reminiscences."  "  In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  he 
became  alarmingly  ill,  so  that  for  a  time  his  life  was  in  jeopardy; 
and  it  seemed  to  us,  blind  mortals  as  we  are,  as  if  all  hopes  of  his 
attaining  to  the  usefulness  in  prospect,  were  about  to  be  blasted. 
God  designed  the  affliction  for  his  sanctification.  He  was  re- 
stored to  health." 

During  his  journey  to  Bath,  letters  reached  his  residence  at 
Norristown,  earnestly  soliciting  his  acceptance,  or  his  promise  to 


HIS  MINISTRY.        -  189 

accept,  of  the  two  important  parishes  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made  ;  the  one  at  Baltimore,  the  other  at  Richmond, 
Virginia.  He  embraced  what  he  supposed  to  be  ^^  the  first  mo- 
ment of  returning  strength" — though  it  proved  to  be  but  an 
intermission  of  his  disease,  and  was  followed  by  all  its  most  per- 
ilous stages — -io  return  the  following  answers. 

To  Mr.  Coales._ 

"NoRRiSTOWN,  August  4,  1813. 

"  My  dear  Sir — I  returned  yesterday  week  from  a  long  jour- 
ney, so>  much  indisposed  as  to  compel  me  to  keep  my  bed  almost 
continually  since,  and  to  disable  me  from  either  reading  or  writ- 
ing. I  embrace  the  first  moment  of  returning  strength,  though 
with  a  feeble  hand,  to  answer  your  kind  letter  of  the  25th  ult., 
and  sincerely  to  thank  you  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  our  com- 
munion in  Baltimore,  for  the  very  flattering  offer  of  so  respecta- 
ble a  situation  as  that  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beasley's  removal  to 
Philadelphia  has  left  vacant. 

"On  a  subject  of  so  much  importance,  I  shall  be  glad  of  an 
opportunity  of  consulting  with  our  venerable  diocesan,  to  whose 
friendship  I  am  greatly  indebted,  and  without  conferring  with 
whom  I  should  hesitate,  at  this  stage  of  my  progress  towards 
ordination,  to  take  any  decisive  step  in  regard  to  a  settlement. 
He  has  more  than  once  intimated,  in  the  most  affectionate  man- 
ner, that  he  calculated  on  my  remaining  in  his  diocese  ;  and  many 
of  my  friends  in  Philadelphia  speak  in  very  determinate  terms, 
of  the  expectation  there  that  my  labors  should  be  commenced 
among  them.  With  respect  to  myself,  as  my  views  in  proposing 
to  enter  the  ministry  have,  so  far  as  I  know  my  own  heart,  no 
selfish  considerations  mingled  with  them,  I  am  willing  to  render 
my  little  portion  of  service  to  the  cause  of  religion  wherever  the 
providence  of  Grod  may  seem  to  direct.  My  present  impressions, 
however,  are,  that  it  would  conduce  neither  to  the  good  of  the 
Church,  nor  to  my  future  usefulness,  to  undertake  the  duties  of 
a  reader  and  continue  them  for  so  long  a  period  as  will  elapse 
before,  according  to  the  canon,  I  can  expect  ordination.  A  year 
from  ray  annunciation  as  a  candidate  will  not  have  expired  till 
the  middle  of  April  next.     For  the  intermediate  time,  I  have 


190  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

removed  to  this  pleasant  little  village,  among  Mrs.  Milnor's  friends, 
where  I  am  retired  from  all  bustle,  and  have  very  much  the  unin- 
terrupted command  of  my  own  time,  except  as  my  attention  is, 
now  and  then,  unavoidably  engaged  in  the  winding  up  of  my  pro- 
fessional and  other  concerns  in  the  city ;  which,  indeed,  for  some 
time  to  come,  require  me  to  be  within  convenient  distance  of  my 
successor  in  the  law.  I  have  also,  at  the  request  of  the  vestry  of 
a  new  parish  in  this  place,  consented,  under  a  license  from  the 
bishop,  to  officiate  as  a  lay-reader  for  them  during  the  time  of 
my  stay ;  so  that,  all  things  considered,  a  change  of  my  situation, 
at  present,  would  be  attended  with  considerable  inconvenience. 

"  Another  very  important  consideration  affects  my  mind ;  and 
that  is,  the  apparently  unbecoming  presumption  of  a  candidate 
for  orders,  in  anticipating  his  duties  in  a  place  of  so  much  impor- 
tance as  your  city,  and  perhaps  standing  in  the  way  of  a  regular 
clergyman,  who  would  be  more  acceptable,  and  to  whom  the  sit- 
uation might  be  very  desirable.  In  short,  after  repeating  my 
thanks  for  your  kind  intentions,  I  have  to  express  my  wish  that 
you  may  be  successful  in  finding  a  faithful  pastor,  of  better  qual- 
ifications than  myself,  to  take  at  once  full  charge  of  the  Church, 
and  prevent  the  inconveniences  of  such  a  plan  as  that  which  you 
have  suggested.  I  think  it,  however,  due  to  so  unexpected  and 
friendly  an  intimation  to  say,  that  I  will  avail  myself  of  the  first 
opportunity,  after  Grod  shall  be  pleased  to  restore  my  health,  to 
speak  with  Dr.  White  and  one  or  two  other  friends  upon  the  sub- 
ject ;  but  beg  that  I  may  not,  in  the  meantime,  stand  in  the  way 
of  any  arrangement  for  the  welfare  of  your  Church,  that  Provi- 
dence may  offer  to  your  acceptance. 

"  I  lament  the  illness  of  your  venerable  mother ;  but  she  has 
lived  long  enough  under  the  blessed  influence  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  to  know  its  consolations ;  and  I  trust,  if  it  be  his  will  to 
require  it,  she  will  resign  her  soul  without  a  murmur  into  the 
hands  of  her  Redeemer.  Her  advanced  age,  and  the  long-con- 
tinued enjoyment  of  her  society,  with  which  her  children  have 
been  favored,  should  reconcile  them  to  her  departure,  if  such  be 
the  purpose  of  God ;  knowing  that  their  loss  is  her  everlasting 
gain,  and  that  the  separation  now  made,  unless  it  be  their  own 
fault,  will  not  be  eternal.     You  all  have  my  affectionate  prayers 


HIS  MINISTRY.  191 

for  your  support  under  this  and  every  trial,  and  for  a  full  share 
in  the  riches  of  grace  in  Christ  Jesus,  the  true  foundation  of  solid 
comfort  and  happiness  in  this  world,  and  of  all  our  hopes  of  ever- 
enduring  felicity  in  that  which  is  to  come. 

"Be  pleased  to  present  my  best  respects  to  the  family,  and 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kemp ;  and  believe  me  to  be, 

"■  With  affectionate  regard,  yours  sincerely, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  letter  which  he  next  answered,  was  from  the  Rev.  Oliver 
Norris,  of  Alexandria,  who  appears  to  have  written  in  behalf  and 
by  the  authonty  of  the  congregation  iii  Richmond,  over  which 
Mr.  Milnor  was  urged  to  think  of  a  settlement.  To  the  manu- 
script copy  of  his  answer  is  prejfixed  the  following  note:  "  Sketch 
of  letter  to  Rev.  Oliver  Norris,  Alexandria.  Note— r-the  letter  sent 
varied  materially  from  this  sketch ;  but  I  have  no  other  copy." 
This  sketch,  therefore,  is  here  given,  not  as  his  exact  answer  to 
Mr.  Norris,  but  as  an  exposition  of  some  important  views  which 
he  entertained.     It  was  dated, 

"NoRRiSTOWN,  August,  1813. 

"My  dear  Sir — I  thank  you  very  sincerely  for  your  affec- 
tionate letter  of  the  14th  ult.,  to  which  I  should  have  made  an 
earlier  answer ;  but,  at  the  time  of  its  arrival  here,  I  was  absent 
on  a  journey  of  a  fortnight,  from  which  I  returned  about  twelve 
days  ago,  so  much  indisposed  as,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
since,  to  have  been  confined  to  my  bed.  My  sickness  is  still 
such  as  will  oblige  me  to  write  this  short  letter  with  many  in- 
tervals of  rest. 

"You  appreciate  justly  my  motives  in  venturing,  as  I  humbly 
trust  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  take  upon  me  a 
portion  of  the  ministry  of  reconciliation.  'I  am  as  a  wonder 
unto  many,'  who,  unacquainted  either  with  the  duty  of  submis- 
sion  to  the  manifested  will  of  Grod,  or  with  the  operations  of 
divine  grace  upon  the  renewed  mind,  whereby  alone  true  Chris- 
tian obedience  can  be  produced,  are  astonished  at  my  voluntary 
surrender  of  a  lucrative  practice,  of  associations  of  the  most 
varied  and  attractive  kind,  and  of  encouraging  prospects  of  pub- 
lic honor  and  distinction.     Yet,  strange  as  it  seems  to  them,  to 


192  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

me  not  one  relinquished  object  of  former  attachment  occasions 
the  smallest  regret.  But  it  is  a  source  of  painful  reflection  to 
me,  that  so  much  of  a  short  lifetime  has  been  so  unprofitably 
spent,  and  that  I  am  now  able  to  make  an  offering  to  God  of  the 
small,  remnant  only  of  my  days,  when  the  whole  ought  to  have 
been  his. 

"With  respect  to  the  future  sphere  of  my  labors,  my  best 
reflections  and  the  advice  of  friends  have  led  me  to  postpone,  for 
the  present,  any  decisive  determination.  My  probationary  year 
will  not  expire  till  the  middle  of  April  next ;  and  there  seems  a 
want  of  delicacy  towards  the  proper  authorities  of  the  Church, 
in  anticipating  their  decision  upon  my  qualifications,  of  which 
every  day's  experience  opens  a  humbler  view  to  myself;  or  in 
entering  into  engagements  at  present  which  circumstances  here- 
after may  render  it  difficult,  perhaps  impracticable,  to  fulfil. 

"I  trust  I  shall  not  be  so  misunderstood  as  to  be  supposed  to 
set  a  light  value  upon  so  very  respectable  a  proposition  as  that 
of  a  settlement  at  Richmond,  if,  besides  the  general  reason  above 
stated  for  now  withholding  a  decision,  I  were  to  add,  that,  honor- 
able as  the  post  will  be,  and  extensive  as  may  be  the  good  to  be 
done  by  him  who  fills  it,^  I  doubt  whether  it  is  adapted  to  my 
opinions  or  habits.  My  impressions  against  slavery  were  early 
and  deep;  and,  with  my  present  views  of  the  universality  of 
divine  love,  they  are  strengthened  and  rendered  unalterable.  1 
do  not  think  I  ought  to  go  voluntarily  into  the  midst  of  it,  and 
perhaps  become,  from  necessity,  a  partaker  in  it. 

"  There  is  also,  I  understand,  at  Richmond,  a  fashionable  gay- 
ety  of  manners  and  disposition,  far  exceeding  the  general  style  of 
those  to  which  I  have  been  accustomed  in  Philadelphia,  in  which 
it  would  be  painful  for  a  Christian  minister  to  be  compelled  to 
participate,  and  which,  perhaps,  it  would  be  useless,  nay,  destruc- 
tive of  even  partial  usefulness,  to  oppose. 

"  To  these  suggestions  I  might,  as  a  subordinate  considera- 
tion, add,  that  the  heats  of  summer  are  extremely  unfavorable  to 
my  health  ;  and  that,  even  in  this  cooler  climate,  I  scarcely  ever 
pass  through  July  and  August  without  an  attack  of  sickness : 
and,  as  a  more  important  item,  might  again  add,  a  friendly  wish, 
more  than  once  expressed  by  our  venerable  diocesan,  that  I  would 


HIS  MINISTRY.  193 

not  leave  this  state ;  and  the  kind  and  earnest  requests  of  my 
Episcopalian  friends  in  Philadelphia,  that  I  would  remain  in  that 
city,  where  many  circumstances  lead  to  the  belief  that  my  poor 
exertions  may  be  so  directed  as  to  be  profitable  to  many. 

"  To  every  thing  now  said,  I  should  be  unjust  to  my  own 
feelings  if  I  did  not  add,  still  further,  that  considering  the  grand 
scale  on  which  the  church  in  Richmond  has  been  commenced, 
and  the  expectations  raised  with  respect  to  the  services  to  be  per- 
formed in  it,  the  moderate  estimate  which  I  am  taught  to  make 
of  my  talents  and  acquirements  would  render  me  apprehensive 
of  falling  very  far  below  the  standard  which,  has  been  set  up. 
To  the  gay  and  volatile,  '  Christ  Jesus  and  him  crucified'  is  but 
a  dull  and  simple  theme,  poorly  supplying  the  place  of  those 
flowers  of  rhetoric  and  charms  of  diction  with  which  genius  de- 
lights to  embellish  the  merely  moral  theme.  Yet  it  is  my  deter- 
mination, through  grace,  to  preach  nothing  else  to  the  people 
whom  God,  in  his  providence,  may  allot  to  my  charge,  than  the 
Gospel  of  Christ ;  for  '  I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord :'  I  believe  it 
to  be  '  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  unto  every  one  that  be- 
lieveth;'  and  that  there  is  great  danger  of  preaching  in  such 
*  wisdom  of  words  as  to  make  the  Cross  of  Christ  of  none  effect.' 

"  In  all  that  I  have  said,  it  is  far  from  my  intention  to  give 
offence.  The  friendly  nature  of  your  communication  required 
that  I  should  detail  some  of  my  reasons  for  doubting  whether 
Richmond  were  an  eligible  situation  for  me ;  and  I  have  done  so. 
I  leave  you  to  judge  of  their  weight. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  sir,  on  your  settlement  in  Alex- 
andria, which,  I  hope,  you  will  find  an  agreeable  residence,  and 
a  situation  where  you  may  be  the  means  of  winning  many  souls 
to  Christ — praying  that  you  may  meet  the  double  reward  of  pres- 
ent peace  of  mind,  and  of  future  endless  bliss. 

"  Be  pleased,  as  it  may  fall  in  your  way,  to  present  my  re- 
gards to  Col.  Deneale,  Mr.  John  Roberts,  and  their  families  ;  also 
to  Judge  "Washington  and  the  Messrs.  Lee ;  and  believe  me  to 
be,  with  sentiments  of  sincere  affection, 

"  Your  faithful  friend  and  brother  in  the  truth, 

"JAMES  MILNOR.". 

Hem.  Milnor.  ^.  1  ^ 


194  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

These  letters  are  interesting,  both  as  the  productions  of  a  sick 
man,  scarcely  able  to  hold  his  pen,  and  as  proofs  that  the  good 
work  of  the  Spirit  in  his  heart  was  in  progress,  shaping  him  more 
and  more  perfectly  according  to  the  pattern  of  the  true  minister 
of  Christ.  To  this  latter  point,  all  the  traces  which  he  has  left 
of  his  feelings  at  the  close  of  his  long  and  perilous  illness,  bear  a 
decided  testimony.  It  is  particularly  manifest,  that  at  this  time 
the  spirit  of  prayer  in  him  was  actively  alive.  It  mingled  in  all 
his  engagements,  and  breathed  through  no  small  part  of  his  diary. 
Thus : 

"  Nov.  18,  1813. — The  unsettled  state  of  my  family,"  he 
writes,  "  for  some  time  past,  has  prevented  attention  to  the  inter- 
esting duty  of  family  worship.  My  dear  Ellen's  state  of  health 
now  admitting  of  her  attendance,  and  our  arrangements  in  a  new 
residence  being  made,  I  this  morning  commenced  prayers,  and 
hope  to  continue  them ,  every  day,  morning  and  evening.  May 
God  give  us  the  aids  of  his  heavenly  grace  to  perform  this  duty 
with  cheerfulness  and  regularity ;  to  enter  upon  it,  at  all  times, 
with  prepared  hearts  and  with  engaged  minds ;  and  to  profit  by 
our  daily  communion  with  him  on  the  throne  of  his  mercy. 
Grant,  0  Almighty  Father,  to  thy  servant,  a  spirit  of  prayer  and 
supplication ;  enable  him  to  pray  with  the  heart  and  with  the 
understanding;  put  thou,  0  Holy  Spirit,  right  words  into  his 
mouth,  and  grant  that  we  may  never  be  found  offering  the  sacri- 
fice of  fools.  0  may  every  member  of  this  family  rejoice  in  the 
privilege  of  access  by  prayer  to  God,  through  the  blood  and  inter- 
cession of  the  Redeemer,  and  pay  their  daily  vows,  with  unvary- 
ing fervency  and  zeal,  to  the  blessed  and  triune  God,  to  whom  be 
ascribed  never-ending  praises.     Amen." 

His  return  to  the  city  enabled  him,  with  increased  expedi- 
tion, to  close  the  settlement  of  his  temporal  affairs,  and  at  an 
earlier  period  to  give  his  mind  to  uninterrupted  study.  He 
writes,  no  longer  after  his  return  than 

"Saturday,  Nov.  27,  1813. — My  beloved  partner's  bodily 
health  being  restored,  and  her  strength  in  some  measure  regain- 
ed— purchases  of  furniture  for  our  new  residence  being  nearly 
completed,  and  many  other  temporal  cares  being  either  removed 
out  of  the  way,  or  lessened — I  hope,  hereafter,  to  be  more  closely 


HIS  MINISTRY.  195 

and  methodically  engaged  in  theological  studies.  My  prayer  to 
Almighty  God  is,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  pursue  them  with  a  zeal 
and  industry  proportioned  to  their  importance ;  but  that,  while 
the  head  is  acquiring  knowledge,  the  heart  may  not  lose  the  ar- 
dor of  its  aflfections ;  its  love  to  God  and  the  Saviour ;  its  desire 
after  more  grace  and  inward  holiness;  its  unceasing  gratitude 
for  countless  mercies  and  undeserved  blessings ;  its  wrestling  with 
God  for  their  continuance,  unworthy  as  I  am,  for  the  Redeemer's 
sake ;  and  its  faith  and  hope  in  his  precious  sacrifice  and  inter- 
cession. Let  me  not  lose,  0  merciful  God,  my  convictions  of  sin,' 
my  hatred  of  its  contaminations,  my  sense  of  unremitting  depend- 
ence on  thee  for  ability  to  resist  its  baneful  influence,  and  my 
continual  applications  to  thee  for  thy  support.  Be  thou,  '  0  Lord, 
a  shield  for  me,  my  glory,  and  the  lifter  up  of  my  head.' 

"  To-morrow  is  the  Sabbath  of  the  Lord  ;  that  day,  of  which 
he  has  commanded  us  to  '  remember  that  we  keep  it  holy.'  I 
feel,  as  it  draws  near,  fresh  reproaches  from  my  conscience,  that 
I  have  not  kept  it  more  strictly  and  spiritually  in  times  past,  and 
that  I  have  profited  so  little  by  its  sacred  exercises.  0  how  lan- 
guid and  wandering  have  been  my  devotions  ;  how  cold  and  spir- 
itless my  confessions,  prayers,  and  praises ;  how  indifferent  my 
attention ;  and  how  irretentive  my  memory  of  the  precious  truths 
delivered,  by  God's  ambassadors,  from  the  sacred  desk !  Inspire 
me,  0  God,  with  grace  to  amend  my  ways :  give  me  more  zeal, 
more  sincerity,  more  of  the  vitality  of  true  religion — more  heart- 
felt, deep,  and  untiring  engagedness  in  thy  service.  '  0  turn  unto 
me,  and  have  mercy  upon  me ;'  '  Teach  me  thy  way,  0  Lord ;  I 
will  walk  in  thy  truth  ;  unite  my  heart  to  fear  thy  name.'  Then, 
'  I  will  praise  thee,  0  Lord  my  God,  with  all  my  heart ;  and  I  will 
glorify  thy  name  for  evermore.'  " 

These  aspirations  seem  not  to  have  been  repressed  by  what  he 
heard  the  following  day. 

"  Sunday,  Nov.  28,  1813.— ^In  the  morning,  attended  divine 
service  at  St.  James'.  Mr.  Kemper  preached  a  forcible  and  im- 
passioned sermon  from  part  of  the  first  verse  of  the  sixty-third 
Psalm  :  '  0  God,  thou  art  my  God ;  early  will  I  seek  thee.' 

"  The  discourse  was  addressed  principally  to  the  younger  part 
of  the  congregation,  but  in  the  course  of  it  Mr.  Kemper  took 


196  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

occasion  to  make  an  earnest  appeal  to  those  more  advanced  in 
years.  He  referred  to  the  causes  of  the  present  Laodicean  state 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  We  were,  in  a  considerable  degree,  com- 
posed of  the  rich  and  respectable,  the  gay  and  fashionable ;  we 
were  willing  to  be  religious  on  our  own  terms  only,  and  therefore 
desired  no  stricter  conformity  to  Christ  than  what  comported 
with  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  the  pleasures  and  frivolities  of  life  ; 
we  had  cultivated  an  empty  system  of  morals,  having  nothing 
in  it  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  Christianity  and  of  the  gospel 
method  of  salvation,  but  substituting  for  them  a  vain  reliance  on 
our  own  performances,  and  in  a  great  degree  rejecting  Christ  as 
our  Saviour.  He  declared,  that  no  reliance  was  to  be  placed  on 
so  fallacious  a  scheme  ;  that  without  genuine,  heartfelt  repent- 
ance, and  a  living  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  none  of  us 
could  be  saved ;  and  that  without  these  essential  prerequisites, 
all  our  works  were  unproductive  and  useless,  if  not  sinful  in  the 
sight  of  God.  We  are  justified  by  faith,  and  until  its  power  is 
felt  in  the  heart,  and,  whatever  our  rank  or  influence,  honors  or 
wealth,  we  come  as  suppliants  to  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  crying 
out,  '  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  V  and  there,  through  free  and 
sovereign  grace,  receive  remission  of  our  sins  and  a  renewal  of 
our  nature,  we  can  have  no  reason  to  hope  for  happiness  in 
heaven." 

Here,  certainly,  was  nothing  of  baptismal  regeneration,  nor 
of  the  notion  of  justification  by  the  sacraments.  No  wonder 
that  Mr.  Milnor,  as  he  proceeds,  breaks  forth  in  this  impassioned 
language.  :  .-'       - 

"  0  how  my  heart  went  along  with  bur  zealous  young  pastor. 
These  are  the  doctrines  which,  if  frequently  pressed  home  upon 
the  consciences  of  our  congregations,  would  indeed  make  a  stir- 
ring among  the  dry  bones.  God  grant  that  he  may  be  encouraged 
in  his  course,  that  he  may  continue  to  be  increasingly  bold  in  his 
divine  Master's  cause,  and  that,  through  his  instrumentality,  'the 
hearts  of  the  disobedient  may  be  turned  to  the  wisdom  of  the 
just,'  and  many  of  those  who  are  now  under  the  power  of  Satan 
and  their  own  delusions,  unto  God." 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1813,  Mr.  Milnor  was  engaged,  with 
some  others,  in  organizing  an  association  in  the  city  of  Phila- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  197 

delphia  for  "  the  improvement  of  its  members  in  religious  know- 
ledge, the  invigorating  of  their  pious  affections,  the  promotion  of 
a  spirit  of  Christian  fellowship,  the  increase  of  their  attachment 
to  the  doctrines  and  ritual  of  our  holy  apostolic  church,  the 
obtaining  and  communicating  of  religious  intelligence,  and  the 
enjoyment  of  the  pleasures  and  advantages  of  social  worship." 
The  secular  affairs  of  the  church  were  excluded  from  the  exer- 
cises of  the  meetings.  Those  exercises  were  to  consist  of  reading 
the  Scriptures  and  approved  religious  authors,  prayer,  exhortation, 
singing,  and  religious  conversation.  Members  were  admitted  by 
election  only.  Visitors,  from  the  city  exclusively,  and  to  the 
number  of  six  only,  might  be  invited  to  attend  at  any  one  meet- 
ing. When  a  clergyman  was  present,  he  was  always  to  conduct 
the  religious  exercises,  unless  he  chose  to  devolve  the  whole  or  a 
part  on  one  or  more  of  the  lay  members. 

A  draft  of  the  constitution  of  the  society,  "  agreed  to,  Deo. 
29,  1813,"  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Milnor,  and  embodying  the 
above  features,  denominates  the  association,  "  The  Protestant 
Episcopal  Evangelical  Society."  How  long  it  continued  in  oper- 
ation we  have  not  the  means  of  ascertaining ;  but  its  organiza- 
tion and  Mr.  Milnor's  share  in  it  show  how  early  he  began  to 
transfer  his  fondness  for  this  mode  of  action  from  political  and 
literary  to  religious  interests.  He  was  seldom  more  in  his  ele- 
ment than  when  engaged  in  conducting  the  concerns  of  the  vari- 
ous societies  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

The  following  letter,  found  among  Dr.  Milnor's  papers,  though 
without  name  or  date,  yet  leaves  no  room  for  doubt  on  the  ques- 
tion to  whom  it  was  addressed.  It  was  probably  written,  whether 
earlier  or  later,  about  this  period,  and  is  therefore  here  introduced. 
It  excites  a  somewhat  sad  foreboding  as  to  the  close  of  the  relig- 
ious life  of  his  old  friend,  Aquila  M.  Bolton.  And  yet,  who  knows 
but  that  this  later  remonstrance  from  one  whom  that  friend  so 
early  warned  of  the  peril  of  impenitency,  may  have  proved  the 
means  of  reawakening  his  own  soul,  and  of  saving  him  from  the 
peril  of  apostasy  ?     The  letter  was  as  follows : 

"  My  dear  Friend — I  have  received  the  first  number  of  a 
Miscellany,  of  which  the  well-known  letters  on  the  cover  apprise 
me  you  are  the  editor.     Has  the  long  interruption  of  epistolary 


'198  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MIL^OR. 

intercourse  so  far  deadened  our  sensibilities  to  one  another's  in- 
terests, and  so  completely  estranged  us  from  each  other,  as  to 
preclude  a  free  and  candid  intercommunication  of  sentiments  ? 
I  trust  not.  The  evidence  which  you  have  just  given  me  that  I 
still  live  in  your  remembrance,  and  the  throbbings  of  my  own 
bosom  as  I  am  now  communing  with  you,  convince  me  that  our 
friendship  is  not  dead,  though  it  has  slept ;  and  it  is  this  persua- 
sion that  encourages  me  to  unburthen  my  mind  with  the  most 
unbounded  frankness. 

"  For  several  years  past  I  have  heard  but  little  of  you,  for  we' 
had  ceased  to  interchange  letters,  and  I  seldom  met  with  any  of 
your  friends  who  could  tell  me  any  thing  about  you.  You  have 
now  suddenly  risen  to  my  view  in  a  shape  so  new  and  unexpected 
as  greatly  to  surprise  me,  without  affording  any  of  that  delight 
which  those  precious  communications — still  preserved  and  fre- 
quently recurred  to — from  Jersey,  frOm  Spain,  and  from  Wheel- 
ing, have  afforded.  0,  my  valued,  my  earliest  friend,  has  your 
relish  for  divine  things  deserted  you  ?  Has  the  love  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus,  once,  as  I  believed,  so  liberally  shed  abroad  in  your 
heart,  waxed  cold  ?  Does  religion  no  longer  court  your  feelings 
by  those  sweet  endearments  in  which  you  once  so  much  de- 
lighted ?  Can  you  have  become  willing  to  relinquish  the  solid 
and  durable  pleasures  of  piety  for  the  light  and  frivolous  amuse- 
ments of  the  day,  even  though  they  court  you  under  the  mask  of 
literature  and  taste  ?  Believe  me,  when  I  look  at  those  awful 
admonitions  with  which  you  once  addressed  me,  and  in  which 
your  whole  concern  was  to  induce  me,  like  yourself,  to  take  up 
the  cross  of  the  Redeemer,  and  to  '  count  all  things  but  loss  for 
the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord ;'  when 
I  recollect  my  being  told,  by  one  of  your  friends,  that  you  had 
become  a  public  champion  of  his  glorious  cause,  and  when  I  look 
at  the  title  and  contemplated  plan  of  your  Miscellany — ^useful  as 
some  of  its  proposed  objects  may,  no  doubt,  be — I  am  at  a  loss  ta 
decide  whether  astonishment  or  grief  be  the  predominant  feeling 
of  my  mind.  Not  one  word  in  your  prospectus,  or  in  your  first 
number,  of  Christ  or  his  blessed  religion ;  and  but  a  trivial  glance 
towards  even  morality,  good  as  the  product  of  the  Spirit,  but  a 
mean  and  barren  substitute  for  genuine  religion.     Ah,  this,  I 


HIS   MINISTRY.  199 

feair,  evinces  too  plainly,  that  you  have  become  satiated  with  the 
fountains  of  '  living  water,'  of  whose  delightful  streams  you  once 
partook,  and  have  betaken  yourself  to  '  cisterns,  broken  cisterns, 
that  will  hold  no  water.' 

"  With  such  apprehensions,  permit  an  old  friend,  who  has 
abandoned  the  pursuit  of  the  wealth,^  and  honor,  and  pleasures  of 
this  world,  for  the  riches  of  eternity,  the  unfading  honor  of  his 
Redeemer's  crown  of  righteousness,  and  the  enjoyment  of  the 
light  of  his  divine  countenance,  to  solicit  you  to  pause  and  con- 
sider the  awful  danger  of  apostasy  from  Jhe  faith  of  Jesus.  Can 
it  be  possible  that  he  who  once,  with  so  much  feeling,  admonished 
the  friend — 'Who  now  sincerely  thanks  him  for,  while  he  recipro- 
cates the  kindness — of  the  necessity  of  closing  with  the  offers  of 
mercy,  is  willing  to  become  a  castaway  ?  0  beware,  my  friend, 
I  entreat  you,  that  the  evil  spirit  which  has  gone  out  from  you, 
do  not  '  return  into  his  house,  and  find  it  empty,  swept,  and  gar- 
nished,' for  the  reception  of  himself  and  'seven  other  spirits  more 
wicked  than  himself,'  and  so  make  your  'last  state  worse  than 
the  first.'  I  shall  probably  hereafter  write  you  more  fully,  and 
give  you  some  account  of  the  Lord's  dealings  with  my  soul ;  but 
in  the  meantime  will  conclude  with  an  apposite  quotation  from 
an  author  with  whose  style  you  are  well  acquainted." 

The  manuscript  closes  without  the  quotation,  and  our  notices 
of  his  friend  Bolton's  religious  life  must  be  dismissed  without  any 
certain  light  as  to  its  issue. 

From  the  close  of  the  year  1813,  Mr.  Milnor  continued  his 
theological  studies  until  August,  1814,  four  months  after  his  re- 
quired term  of  candidateship  had  expired — apparently  in  conse- 
quence of  the  long  interruption  of  those  studies  by  his  own  illness 
and  that  of  his  wife,  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1813.  He  would 
have  continued  them  for  a  still  longer  period,  but  for  a  circum- 
stance which  hastened  his  ordination,  and  which  he  thus  records 
in  his  last  entry  in  his  diary  : 

"August  9,  1814. — Once  more  I  resume  my  brief  annotations. 
Since  my  last  entries,  my  life  has  been  that  of  a  student,  much 
abstracted  from  the  world,  and  laboriously  engaged  in  the  acqui- 
sition of  theological  knowledge.  My  prospect  has  been  to  apply 
for  orders  in  October  next ;  but  circumstances  of  an  unexpected 


200  ^  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

nature  have  hastened  the  measure.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kemper  having 
been  invited  by  the  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Christianity 
to  go  upon  a  mission  through  the  state,  the  vestry  have  requested 
me  to  anticipate  the  time  of  my  ordination,  that  I  may  supply 
his  place  during  his  absence.  The  desire  of  the  bishop  and  of 
all  my  friends  concurring  in  this  arrangement,  I  have  consented ; 
and  have  accordingly  undergone,  agreeably  to  the  canon,  four 
separate  examinations  at  Bishop  "White's,  conducted  by  himself, 
Dr.  Hutchins,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wiltbank:  the  first,  on  Friday 
last,  for  two  and  a  half  hours ;  the  second  on  Saturday,  for  two 
hours;  the  third  yesterday  morning,  for  two  and  a  half  hours; 
and  the  last  yesterday  afternoon,  for  two  hours.  My  ordination, 
with  God's  permission,  is  to  take  place  on  Sunday  morning  next, 
in  St.  James'  church." 

In  a  record  which  he  soon  after  opened,  for  the  simple  purpose 
of  "preserving  a  note  of  each  sermon  preached  by  him  during 
his  ministry,"  he  adds,  "I  was  ordained  deacon  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
William  White,  in  St.  James'  church,  Philadelphia,  on  Sunday 
morning,  August  14,  1814." 

So  brief  was  his  notice  of  that  interesting  event,  which  lay 
between  all  his  past  life  of  pleasure  and  of  politics  in  the  great 
world  of  men,  and  all  his  coming  life  of  labor  and  of  usefulness 
in  the  sweet  service  Of  Christ !  His  first  sermon  was  preached 
in  St.  Peter's,  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  on  which  he  was 
ordained.  This,  with  St.  James'  and  Christ  church,  constituted 
the  parish  of  which  Bishop  White  was  rector ;  having  associated 
with  him  as  assistants,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Abercrombie  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kemper. 

The  text  of  his  first  sermon,  chosen  with  peculiar  appropri- 
ateness, was  Rom.  1:16:  "I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Grospbl  of 
Christ;  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one 
that  believeth :  to  the  Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek."  We  can 
well  conceive  the  interest  with  which  a  sermon  before  such  an 
audience,  from  such  a  text,  and  by  such  a  man,  must  have  been 
received;  preached,  as  it  was,  in  the  very  centre  of  that  round 
,  of  fashion  in  which,  for  so  many  years,  he  had  been  moving; 
before  many  of  his  former  companions  in  gayety  and  business; 
and  on  a  text  which  called  him  to  exhibit  the  Gospel  of  the  lowly 


f/      ^  OJ    TBE  'r 

HIS  MINISTRY.  \\^  ^^  ■*■         201  »^  *  *   ^ 

Jesus  in  all  its  humbling  peculiarity,  and  with  mnrf^^AjUoTUBk*  J^  ^ 
to  take  up  the  cross  of  proclaiming  Christ  crucified  among  men. 
That  he  was,  for  once,  "a  prophet  not  without  honor  in  his 
own  country,  and  among  his  own  kin,"  may  be  inferred  from 
the  fact,  that  on  the  21st  of  December  next  after  his  ordination, 
he  was  "unanimously  elected  by  the  vestry  a  minister  of  the 
united  churches;"  his  election  being  announced  to  him  "  by  Gen- 
eral Gurney,  Commodore  Dale,  and  Mr.  Wayne,"  on  the  evening 
of  "Wednesday,  after  he  had  been  out  of  the  city  to  preach  in 
"  Spring  Garden  Academy." 

The  three  united  churches  were  now  furnished  with  a  rector 
and  three  assistants;  an  arrangement,  in  consequence  of  which 
each  had  one  "leisure"  Sunday  out  of  every  four.  This  leisure 
each  seems  to  have  spent  in  preaching  in  the  neighboring  par- 
ishes and  destitute  places.  Such  was  the  use  which  Mr.  Milnor, 
at  least,  made  of  his  leisure  Sundays,  as  appears  from  his  record 
of  the  times  and  places  of  his  labors.  The  first  fruit  of  this  ar- 
rangement was  the  organization  of  St.  John's  church.  Northern 
Liberties.  Mr.  Milnor  commenced  this  enterprise  by  preaching, 
Sunday  evening,  February  19,  1815,  "in  the  Commissioners' 
Hall,"  or  town-house,  in  that  dense  suburb.  The  service  was  in 
"a  large  and  crowded  room,"  and  the  sermon  to  "a  deeply  at- 
tentive people." 

On  Sunday  morning,  August  27,  1815,  he  was  admitted  by 
Bishop  White,  in  St.  James'  church,  to  the  order  of  presbyters; 
and  on  the  next  Sunday  morning,  September  3,  in  Christ  church, 
he  "  for  the  first  time  administered  the  holy  communion." 

The  only  incident  out  of  the  usual  routine  of  duty,  which  he 
records  during  the  year  of  his  diaconate,  was  the  following. 

"At  night,"  Sunday,  October  23,  1814,  "at  the  request  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Broadhead,  pastor  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  in 
Crown-street,  who  was  absent  on  a  religious  visit  to  the  camp, 
near  Wilmington,  Delaware,"  [those,  it  will  be  remembered,  were 
times  of  war,]  "  I  preached  to  a  very  crowded  congregation  on 
love  to  Christ,  especially  addressed  to  youth,  from  Prov.  8  :  17 : 
*  I  love  them  that  love  me ;  and  those  that  seek  me  early  shall 
find  me.'  N.  B. — In  the  service  I  used  the  forms  of  our  Church, 
and  complied  with  Mr.  Broadhead's  request,  after  conferring  with 


202  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Bishop  "White,  who  declared  there  was  no  ecclesiastical  impro- 
priety in  my  compliance  ;  and  expressed  himself  pleased  with  the 
liberality  of  Mr.  Broadhead's  proposal," 

The  two  following  letters,  written  during  this  period,  indicate 
very  distinctly  the  acceptableness  of  his  labors  ;  the  stand  which 
he  at  once  took  as  an  evangelical  preacher  ;  his  temper  in  regard 
to  ecclesiastical  dissensions  ;  and  the  manner  in  which  he  sought 
to  do  good  "in  season,  and  out  of  season."  The  former  was 
addressed 

,  To  the   Rev.   Levi  Bull. 

"Philadelphia,  January  16,  1815. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Brother — It  will  be  best,  I  believe,  to  com- 
promise all  our  differences  about  want  of  punctuality  and  atten- 
tion in  the  interchange  of  letters,  by  an  understanding  that  we 
mutually  attend  to  it  as  other  duties  permit,  and  that,  where 
seeming  negligence  occurs,  it  shall  be  ascribed  to  sufficient  cause. 

"I  thank  you  for  your  kind  communication  of  the  10th  ult. 
The  good  opinion  of  so  experienced  a  fellow-Christian  as  yourself 
is  confessedly  grateful  to  my  feelings ;  whilst  I  desire  that  neither 
that,  nor  any  other  expression  of  human  approbation  may  seduce 
me  into  those  '  vain  imaginations  and  high  thoughts,'  which  are 
so  destructive  of  true  religion  in  the  soul.  Every  day's  experi- 
ence tends  to  lower  me  in  my  own  estimation ;  for  I  know  the 
inadequacy  of  my  talents  and  attainments,  and  that  I  am  neither 
so  ardent  and  laborious  in  my  external  labors,  nor  so  devout  and 
spiritual  in  my  inward  exercises,  as  becomes  the  sincere  follower 
of  Jesus,  more  especially  a  worm  who  has  taken  upon  himself 
to  speak  to  others  in  his  holy  name.  My  prayer  to  God  is,  for 
daily  supplies  of  his  all-sufficient  grace,  to  strengthen  me  in  his 
work,  and  to  enable  me  to  press  forward  with  a  steady  aim  to 
the  promotion  of  his  glory,  and  the  good  of  souls. 

"  In  relation  to  the  character  and  conduct  of  others,  associated 
in  the  same  duties,  I  think  myself  bound  to  act,  where  I  believe 
error  to  exist,  with  much  moderation.  Many  such  act  honestly, 
according  to  the  conclusions,  however  wrong,  of  their  own  judg- 
ments; and  give  no  offence  to  religion  in  their  lives  and  Conver- 
sations.    Others  let  religion  sit  more  loosely  upon  them ;  and  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  203 

injury,  which  their  errors  in  dbctrine  might  otherwise  occasion, 
is  prevented  by  the  ill  appearance  which  its  practical  influence 
exhibits  in  their  conduct.  '  To  their  own  Master  they  stand  or 
fall.'  The  course  of  those  who  profess  deeper  views  in  divine 
things,  and  endeavor  after  a  closer  conformity  to  the  requisitions 
of  the  Gospel,  is,  in  my  opinion,  to  remain  firm  to  their  principles ; 
to  adhere  to  that  strictness  of  life  which  conscience  and  the  word 
of  God  exact ;  and  to  proclaim*  the  evangelical  truths  of  religion 
with  holy  boldness,  but  without  useless  ofFensiveness  of  language. 
Parties  in  the  Church,  my  dear  friend,  should  not  be  counte- 
nanced. If  an  upright  and  consistent  discharge  of  duty  invite 
odium  or  persecution  from  others,  let  us  receive  with  meekness 
and^  resignation  any  consequences  to  which  it  may  lead.  But 
opposition  to  the  persons  of  men,  the  distinction  of  names,  and 
the  array  of  each  other  into  conflicting  ranks,  must  produce, 
whatever  be  the  sincerity  of  intention,  disastrous  consequences  to 
the  interests  of  our  Zion.  My  views  lead  me  to  shrink  from  any 
situation  that  may  excite  in  my  mind  those  turbulent  and  unruly 
passions  which  divine  grace  has  yet  so  partially  subdued ;  and 
religious  controversies,  of  all  others,  do  excite  them  in  the  most 
lamentable  and  pernicious  degree.  Forgive  the  egotism  into  which 
your  suggestions  unavoidably  lead  me,  when  I  declare  my  per- 
suasion that  God  has  not  formed  me  for  an  agency  in  any  such 
scenes. 

"  But,  whilst  I  wish  to  meddle  little  with  others,  God  has 
clearly  pointed  out  to  me  my  own  line  of  duty.  For  myself,  I 
am  'determined  to  know  nothing,'  in  my  ministerial  labors,  'save 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified;'  to  preach  nothing  but  his  pre- 
cious Gospel  to  perishing  sinners ;  and,  according  to  my  poor 
measure  of  ability,  to  call  men  from  a  reliance  on  their  own  works 
to  an  entire  dependence  upon  the  free  grace  and  meroy  of  God 
in  Christ.  The  native  depravity  of  man,  his  utter  helplessness, 
the  necessity  of  repentance  and  conversion,  the  agency  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  these  evangelical  exercises,  and  the  manifestation  of  the 
blessed  fruit  of  a  change  of  heart  in  the  work  of  holy  obedience 
to  the  revealed  will  and  word  of  God,  are  themes  which  fill  my 
mind,  and  upon  which,  both  publicly  and  privately,  I  shall  con- 
tinue to  dwell.     If  others  preach  differently,  may  God  forgive 


204  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

them,  and  bestow  upon  them  better  views.  I  trust  the  Spirit  of 
God  will  illuminate  the  minds  of  many,  so  as  to  enable  them  to 
discern  where  the  truth  rests ;  and  that  he  will  not  leave  his 
faithfal  servants  without  the  reward  of  their  labors.  Without 
finding  an  apology  in  this  trust  for  any  negligence  on  my  part,  I 
feel,  my  friend,  more  and  more  deeply  convinced  that  we  do  not 
sufficiently  refer  to  the  faithfulness  and  the  omnipotence  of  God, 
in  our  estimate  of  the  effects  to  be  produced  by  the  labors  of  the 
ministry.  Let  us  rely  upon  his  promises  and  his  power,  and  we 
shall  feel  less  desponding  as  to  the  success  which  in  his  own  time 
will  attend  his  preached  word.  Although  the  pleasing  occurrence 
has  not  taken  place  within  the  pale  of  our  own  communion,  yet 
the  late  revival  of  religion  in  the  college  at  Princeton  is  a  just 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  this  position,  and  a  cause  of  pious  felici- 
tation among  Christians  of  every  denomination.  I  have  heard 
the  letters  of  Dr.  Green  on  the  subject  read  with  astonishment 
and  delight.  One  of  them  contains  fifty-two  names  of  young 
men,  a  part  of  whom,  it  was  believed,  had  'passed  from  death 
unto  life  ;'  while  another  part  were  'not  far  from  the  kingdom  of 
God,'  and  the  remainder  were  under  strong  convictions  of  sin. 
■  Surely,  'this  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our 
eyes.'  May  the  dews  of  his  heavenly  grace  descend  more  copi- 
ously on  that  part  of  his  vineyard,  in  which  his  providence  has 
called  you  and  me  to  labor.  We  have,  it  is  true,  very  great  dis- 
couragements ;  and  latterly  not  many  appearances  here  of  a  con- 
trary description.  But,  '  as  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  pre- 
cious fruit  of  the  earth,  and  hath  long  patience  for  it  until  he 
receive  the  early  and  the  latter  rain,'  so  let  us  also  'be  patient.' 
Let  us  '  establish  our  hearts ;  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  drawfeth 
nigh.' 

"  Mrs,  Milnor  unites  in  affectionate  remembrance  to  your 
father,  family,  and  Mrs.  Bull.  Believe  me,  in  the  bonds  of  that 
everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure,  wherein  we 
desire  ever  to  abide,  ' 

"  Your  faithful  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  latter  of  the  two  communications  which  have  been  men- 
tioned, was  addressed  to  a  young  gentleman — possibly  one  of  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  205 

'•'■fifty -two ^^  to  whose  case  reference  was  made  in  the  former.     It 
was  dated, 

,  "Philadelphia,  Aug.  3,  1815. 

"  My  dear  Sir — I  acknowledge,  with  great  pleasure,  the  re- 
ceipt of  your  letter  of  the  15th  ult.  How  sorry  am  I  that  a  com- 
munication which  encourages  me  to  think  so  favorably  of  your 
religious  steadfastness,  should  give  so  disheartening  a  prospect  of 
that  of  some  of  your  associates.  This  is  lamentable,  indeed,  as 
it  respects  the  individuals,  for  it  is  a  tenfold  increase  of  their 
guilt  and  condemnation,  to  have  been  placed,  by  the  grace  of 
Almighty  God,  in  the  road  to  eternal  happiness,  and  then  wil- 
fully to  forsake  it ;  and  the  shocking  sin  of  ingratitude  for  past 
mercies  lessens  awfully  the  hope  of  those  mercies  being  renewed 
to  them.  Surely,  these  infatuated  youth  are  sinning  against  the 
clearest  light,  against  the  convictions  of  conscience,  and  have 
abundantly  more  reason  than  its  author  to  adopt  the  language  of 
the  heathen  poet — and  to  fear  the  righteous  vengeance  of  Almighty 
God  for  its  presumptuous  truth — who  declared  of  himself, 

'  Video  meliora  proboque ; 
Deteriora  sequor." 

Let  us  not,  however,  cease  to  pray  for  them,  and  remonstrate 
with  them ;  and  let  us  beware  how  we  ourselves,  by  the  indul- 
gence of  sloth,  by  exposure  to  temptation,  or  by  any  of  that  infi- 
nite variety  of  means  which  Satan  and  our  own  evil  hearts  are 
so  ready  to  suggest,  fall  into  the  like  condemnation. 
•^  "  But  if  the  effect  of  these  secessions  from  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus  be  thus  deplorable  upon  the  individuals  themselves,  it 
is  equally  injurious  to  the  general  interests  of  religion.  Already 
the  enemies  of  evangelical  righteousness  begin  to  take  great 
credit  to  themselves  for  the  truth  of  their  predictions  as  to  the  in- 
stability of  the  subjects  of  the  late  revival ;  infidels  find  in  these 
events  excitements  to  blasphemous  merriment,  and  cold  moralists 
plume  themselves  on  the  superiority  of  their  unfeeling  system 
of  reason  and  expediency  over  one  which  they  allege  to  have  no 
foundation  but  in  the  effervescence  of  animal  excitement. 

"  But  let  none  of  these  things,  my  dear  young  friend,  move 
you.  However  ignorant  blasphemers  may  revile,  or  lukewarm 
Christians  undervalue  the  work  of  grace  begun  by  the  good  Spirit 


206  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  our  God  in  your  seminary,  I  trust  that  in  the  hearts  of  many 
it  will  be  carried  on  unto  perfection,  and  that  you,  who  have,  in 
some  good  degree,  '  tasted  and  seen  how  good  and  gracious  the 
Lord  is,'  will  maintain  your  confidence,  'knowing  in  whom  you 
have  believed,  and  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  you  have 
committed  unto  him  against  that  day.'  Never,  however,  expose 
yourself  to  the  seductions  of  temptation,  and  the  arts  of  the 
adversary  of  souls ;  never  yield  to  the  suggestions  of  that  re- 
mainder of  a  corrupt  nature,  which  you  will  find  still  luring  you 
back  to  former  habits,  or  lulling  you  into  indifference  about  holy 
things,  or  beguiling  you  into  self-security  and  satisfaction  with 
your  present  measure  of  attainments :  strive  to  '  forget  those 
things  that  are  behind,  and  to  reach  towards  those  that  are  be- 
fore ;  pressing  daily  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  your  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.'  How  anxiously  should  we  aim 
at  that  glorious  assurance  which,  after  the  most  trying  conflicts, 
crowned  the  religious  experience  of  the  great  apostle,  and  enabled 
him  to  say,  '  I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death  nor  life,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor 
things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature, 
shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.' 

"Accept,  my  Christian  brother,  the  humble  prayers  of  an 
unworthy  aspirer  after  these  blessings,  for  your  attainment  of 
so  happy  an  advancement  in  the  divine  life  ;  give  him  an  interest 
in  your  approaches  to  God,  and  believe  him  to  be,  with  that  love 
which  the  true  Christian  only  knows  how  to  feel  and  to  cherish, 
"Your  fellow-traveller  to  Zion,  and  faithful  friend, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

From  the  former  of  these  two  letters  it  is  evident,  that  his 
early  ministry  was  received  with  such  flattering  commendations 
as  made  him  feel  the  need  of  a  strong  guard  against  high  thoughts 
of  himself ;  and  that  he  found  that  guard  in  those  teachings  of 
the  Spirit,  which  filled  him  with  lowly  self-esteem.  It  is  also 
evident,  that  he  was  early  urged  to  assume  the  attitude  of  a  con- 
troversial leg-der  of  the  newly  rising  evangelical  interest  in  the 
Episcopal  church;  and  that,  from  the  first,  he  took  the  stand, 
wliich  he  ever  afterwards  maintained,  of  avoiding  religious  con- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  207 

troversy,  and  especially  party  names,  except  as  he  was  forced  to 
bear  them  in  his  adherence  to  what  he  considered  matters  of 
■principle.  His  temper  in  this  respect  was  beautiful.  "Where 
his  views  of  truth  and  duty  required,  he  took  his  stand  fearlessly 
and  firmly,  and  then  calmly  met  the  consequences  of  his  stand. 
His  position  often  drew  upon  him  violent  assaults ;  but  he  always 
contented  himself  with  the  dignified  defence  which  self-respect 
demanded.  Assaults  upon  others  he  never  made.  The  eyes  of 
thousands  were  early  and  long  turned  upon  him  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men,  if  not  the  most  prominent,  among  the 
evangelical  portion  of  the  American  Episcopal  church ;  but  no 
one  was  ever  able  to  look  upon  him  and  say,  ^'^  Milnor  is  the 
leader  of  our  partyP  The  letter  on  which  these  comments 
are  made,  may  be  taken  as  an  index,  not  less  true  than  early,  to 
his  whole  course  as  an  evangelical  minister  in  the  Church. 

The  latter  of  the  two  letters,  while  it  shows  his  aptness  to 
do  good  as  occasion  was  offered,  exhibits  also  the  interest  with 
which  he  ever  regarded  the  great  question  of  revivals  of  religion. 
He  never  doubted  that  such  revivals  are  in  full  harmony  with 
the  genius  of  the  Gospel,  and  with  the  promised  influences  of 
the  Spirit ;  although  he  never  shut  his  eye  to  the  perils  attend- 
ant on  remarkable  seasons  of  revival,  through  the  wiles  of  Satan, 
the  frailty  of  man,  and  the  deceitfulness  of  the  sinful  heart.  He 
was  disposed  neither  to  overrate  the  good  found  in  revivals  as  the 
work  of  God,  nor  to  be  blind  to  that  good  because  of  sometimes 
attendant  evils  as  the  work  of  man.  He  prayed  for  God's  bless- 
ings through  revivals,  and  he  labored  to  avert  mail's  abuses, 
when  they  came. 

From  the  period  of  his  admission  to  the  order  of  presbyters, 
in  August,  1815,  he  continued  to  labor  in  Philadelphia,  as  one  of 
the  ministers  of  the  united  churches,  until  his  removal  to  New 
York,  in  September,  1816.  During  this  early  period  of  his  min- , 
istry ,  the  only  incident  of  importance  that  occurred  out  of  the 
line  of  his  uniform  and  diligent  labors,  was  the  part  which  he 
took,  in  the  winter  of  1816,  in  the  action  of  the  Philadelphia 
Bible  Society.  This  Society  undertook,  at  that  time,  to  extend 
its  operations  by  the  formation  of  Bible  associations  throughout 
the  city  and  its  populous  suburbs,  and  for  this  purpose  appointed 


808  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

a  committee  to  carry  its  resolutions  into  effect.  Of  this  commit- 
tee Mr,  Milnor  was  a  member,  and  at  its  first  meeting  was  ap- 
pointed secretary.  The  committee  detailed  itself  into  four  sub- 
committees, and  under  this  distribution,  carried  out  the  work 
with  which  they  were  intrusted.  In  doing  so,  they  incidentally 
took  measures  for  organizing  a  "  Marine  Bible  Society."  They 
also  ordered  the  circulars,  which  were  intended  to  accompany 
the  Society's  report  when  published  in  the  newspapers,  to  be  sent 
to  each  of  the  presidents  of  the  Bible  Societies  of  Boston,  Hart- 
ford, Providence,  New  York,  Albany,  Baltimore,  Charleston, 
Richmond,  Savannah,  and  Lexington,  as  well  as  to  the  presi- 
dents of  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  and  of  the  Female  Bible 
Society,  of  Philadelphia. 

These  proceedings  were  had  in  January,  1816,  and  it  is  wor- 
thy of  remark,  that  on  the  11th  of  May  of  the  same  year,  the 
American  Bible  Society  was  organized  in  the  city  of  New  York ; 
an  organization  which  brought  nearly  all  the  disconnected  Bible 
Societies  of  the  country  into  union  with  one  mighty  agency  for 
the  dissemination  of  the  word  of  God  among  all  the  families  of 
the  earth ;  a  fit  associate  in  this  work,  with  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  of  London.  How  far  this  grand  central 
movement  in  New  York  grew  out  of  the  measures  adopted  in 
Philadelphia  the  preceding  January,  it  is  not  intended  to  inquire ; 
but  it  is  pleasing  to  know,  that  Mr.  Milnor  not  only  became  most 
actively  engaged  in  the  American  Bible  Society  immediately 
after  his  removal  to  New  York,  but  was  similarly  engaged  in  the 
Bible  cause  before  its  central  organization  had  a  being. 

Among  his  papers  written  during  the  winter  of  1816,  is  found 
the  following  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  to  an  afflicted  parishioner, 
which  is  here  given,  both  as  a  touching  allusion  to  his  own  earlier 
afflictions,  and  as  a  happy  example  of  his  tenderness  in  comfort- 
ing the  sorrows  of  others. 

To   Mrs.   M . 


"Philadelphia,  February,  1816. 
"  My  dear  Madam — Permit  me  to  express  my  sympathy  with 
you  in  the  deep  distress  which  your  recent  loss  of  a  beloved  child 
has  occasioned.     Having  twice  experienced  a  similar  bereave- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  209 

ment,  1  know  how  difficult  it  is,  in  the  first  transports  of  grief, 
to  take  to  ourselves  the  comforts  of  religion ;  and  yet,  where 
shall  we  find  comfort,  under  such  dispensations,  but  in  the  hopes 
and  promises  of  the  Gospel  ?  Did  I  not  believe,  with  an  unshaken 
faith,  that  the  two  lovely  infants  which  I  have  followed  to  the 
grave,  are  now  part  of  that  heavenly  throng  that  'circle  the 
throne  of  God  day  without  night  rejoicing,'  that  their  happiness 
is  unchangeable  and  eternal,  and  that,  through  faith  in  the  Re- 
deemer of  mankind,  I  may  be  allowed  hereafter  to  see  them,  and 
partake  of  their  glory,  I  should  not  only  be  destitute  of  any 
ground  of  solace  for  myself,  but  could  not  presume  to  pour  the 
balm  of  consolation  into  the  heart  of  a  weeping  mother.  Yes, 
your  dear  boy,  whose  engaging  countenance  has  so  often,  in 
church,  attracted  the  attention  of  Mrs.  Milnor  and  myself,  is  now 
in  heaven.  A  thousand  anxieties  respecting  his  future  destiny, 
by  which  your  maternal  feelings  would  have  been  assailed,  had 
he  grown  towards  manhood,  are  now  prevented.  You  know  he 
is  of  that  happy  number  whose  salvation  has  been  purchased  by 
the  blood  of  the  precious  Lamb  of  God ;  and  what  are  the  honor, 
and  respect,  and  riches,  and  long  life,  which  were  apparently  in 
store  for  your  son,  compared  with  the  unceasing  love  of  God,  and 
the  joys  of  a  never-ending  eternity  ?  Your  loss  is  great,  and 
tears  must  pay  the  debt  of  nature.  A  compassionate  God  will 
not  lay  to  your  charge,  as  sin,  the  temporary  indulgence  of  affec- 
tions which  he  has  implanted.  But  in  the  midst  of  your  tears, 
let  them  not  blind  you  to  the  views  that  have  been  presented. 
Your  boy  is  now  encircled  by  the  arms  of  the  venerable  Father  of 
the  faithful  whose  name  he  bore.  The  loss  of  his  mourning  rela- 
tives is  his  eternal  gain. 

"Having  understood  that  the  duties  of  pastoral  condolence 
have  been  discharged  by  our  respected  and  beloved  diocesan  and 
one  or  more  of  my  senior  brethren,  and  not  willing  to  increase 
the  number  of  visitants  at  a  time  when,  no  doubt,  retirement  is 
desirable,  I  send  you  a  small  volume,  which  I  hope  may  admin- 
ister that  comfort  to  the  heart  of  Mr.  M.  and  yourself,  which  its 
sentiments  have  formerly  afforded  to 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Mem  Milnor.  14 


210  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Early  in  the  month  of  May,  1816,  he  became  aware  of  a 
movement  in  St.  George's  church,  New  York,  tending  towards 
his  future  rectorship  of  that  parish.  He  received  a  letter  from 
the  Rev.  H.  J.  Feltus,  dated  the  first  of  the  month,  intimating 
that  a  committee  from  St.  George's  might  soon  visit  Philadelphia, 
with  the  view  of  hearing  him  in  his  ^^  undress"  This  intimation 
was  probably  not  realized ;  but  Mr.  Milnor  soon  after  received 
from  Dr.  Kewley,  who  had  just  resigned  the  rectorship  of  the 
parish,  a  letter  dated  May  4,  and  covering  a  resolution  from  the 
vestry  of  St.  George's,  which  invited  him  to  visit  New  York  for 
the  purpose  of  "performing  service  and  preaching"  before  the 
congregation.  To  take  off  as  much  as  possible  the  appearance 
of  asking  him  to  officiate  on  trial.  Dr.  Kewley  proposed  to  put 
the  visit  on  the  ground  of  "an  exchange  of  services"  with  him. 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  answer  which  Mr.  Milnor 
returned  to  Dr.  Kewley : 

"Philadelphia,  May  7,  1816. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — Your  favor  of  the  4th  inst.  was  duly 
received,  and  I  have  to  thank  the  vestry  of  St.  George's  church 
for  their  friendly  invitation,  and  you  for  the  kind  manner  in 
which  you  have  been  good  enough  to  make  known  to  me  their 
wishes. 

"It  is  difficult  for  me  to  return  an  immediate  answer,  because 
a  compliance  with  the  request  to  visit  New  York,  thus  officially 
made,  would  imply  a  willingness  on  my  part  to  receive  the  situ- 
ation, if  it  should  be  offered ;  and  that  is  a  point  of  too  embar- 
rassing a  nature  to  be  decided  at  once.  I  am  attached  to  my 
present  place  of  residence,  and  to  the  congregations  in  which  I 
minister,  by  so  many  strong  and  endearing  ties,  that  nothing  but 
a  sense  of  manifest  duty  could  induce  me  to  separate  myself 
from  either.  If,  however,  the  leadings  of  divine  Providence  ap- 
peared to  demand  a  different  direction  of  my  labors,  I  would 
submit  to  any  sacrifice  for  the  furtherance  of  that  precious  cause, 
to  which,  by  the  help  of  God's  grace,  I  purpose  my  remaining 
days  shall  be  assiduously  consecrated,  I  will,  therefore,  ask  per- 
mission to  keep  for  a  few  days  under  consideration  a  request  with 
which  I  could  not  comply  without  a  pretty  decided  determination 
in  my  own  mind  to  accede  to  ulterior  measures,  should  the  vestry 


HIS  MINISTRY.  211 

and  congregation  of  St.  George's  judge  favorably  of  my  capacity 
to  serve  them,  and  propose  my  becoming  their  rector." 

The  remainder  of  the  letter  proposes  to  Dr.  Kewley  some  in- 
quiries concerning  the  parish  in  New  York,  politely  declines  the 
proposed  exchange  of  services,  and  promises  a  farther  seasonable 
reply. 

On  the  11th  of  May,  Dr.  Ke\\rley,  under  instruction  from  the 
vestry,  earnestly  repeated  to  him  their  invitation  to  visit  New 
York,  and  furnished  him  with  the  information  for  which  his  in- 
quiries called.  He  returned  his  answer  on  the  14th,  declining 
their  invitation,  and  apologizing  for  the  promptness  of  his  reply 
oil  the  ground  of  a  wish  to  prevent  disappointment  in  the  supply 
of  St.  George's  for  the  following  Sunday.  The  tenor  of  his  reply 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  H.  J.  Fel- 
tus,  who  had  been  in  correspondence  with  him  on  the  subject  of 
the  proposed  visit. 

"Philadelphia,  May  14,  1816. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  received  yesterday  your  favor  of  the 
11th  inst.,  and  at  the  same  time  a  letter  from  Dr.  Kewley,  accom- 
panied by  a  very  respectful  resolution  from  the  vestry,  answering 
some  inquiries  which  I  had  made  in  relation  to  the  extent  of 
duty  intended  to  be  required  of  their  rector,  and  repeating  their 
desire  of  a  visit; 

"I  have  just  transmitted  my  reply,  by  which,  in  terms  I  trust 
of  suitable  gratitude  and  respect,  I  have  declined  a  compliance 
with  their  request.  I  have  not  thought  it  material  to  go  into  a 
detail  of  my  reasons;  but  have  stated  in  general,  that,  in  part, 
they  arise  naturally  out  of  the  circumstances  of  my  present  con- 
nection, where,  besides  the  minor  consideration  of  personal  feel- 
ing, my  future  usefulness  might,  in  one  event,  be  materially 
aflfected  by  my  having  made  such  a  voluntary  advance  towards 
its  relinquishment;  and,  in  part,  out  of  the  contemplation  of  a 
possibly  different  result  of  my  visit,  involving  anticipations  of  so 
painful  a  nature  to  myself  and  family  as  to  require  clearer  con- 
victions of  duty  than  have  yet  been  felt  to  induce  a  willing  sub- 
mission to  the  trial, 

"  It  is  in  vain  to  conceal  the  fact  that  this  business  has  occa- 
sioned me  many  anxious  hours.     On  the  one  hand,  my  situation 


212  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

here  is,  in  most  respects,  as  eligible  as  could  be  desired.  The 
duties  incumbent  on  me,  though  sufficient  to  occupy  me,  are  not 
burdensome.  My  associates  are  friendly  and  accommodating ; 
our  bishop  one  of  the  most  amiable  men  in  existence ;  the  people, 
among  whom  I  minister,  affectionate,  kind,  and  manifestly  im- 
proving in  piety ;  and  my  worldly  circumstances  easy  and  com- 
fortable. In  addition  to  these  considerations,  some  plans  of  use- 
fulness, in  which  I  am  more  immediately  engaged,  have  endeared 
tome  in  a  high  degree  the  younger  people  of  our  charge ;  and  I 
take  a  deep  interest  in  some  of  the  pious  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions of  the  city,  not  immediately  connected  with  the  Church  ; 
and  besides  all,  at  the  age  which  I  have  now  attained,  the  aban- 
donment of  so  many  relations  of  social  life,  that  bind  my  attach- 
ments here,  for  the  uncertainty  of  their  being  supplied  in  a  new 
place  of  residence,  would  necessarily  induce  a  solemn  pause  in 
my  determination,  had  the  resolutions,  to  which  you  attach  the 
importance  of  a  virtual  call,  actually  assumed  that  shape. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  a  single  congregation,  under  the  imme- 
diate and  entire  charge  of  one  pastor,  presents  many  advantages 
for  a  useful  application  of  ministerial  effort,  which  a  collegiate 
charge  does  not ;  and  it  is  this  circumstance,  principally,  that 
would  induce  me  to  listen  for  a  moment  to  any  suggestion  of  a 
change  of  situation. 

"It  is  very  probable,  that  the  one  to  which  our  correspondence 
has  had  reference,  will  be  no  more  thought  of  in  the  quarter  where 
it  originated ;  and  from  the  sensation  which  it  has  produced  in  the 
minds  of  my  friends  here,  it  had  indeed  become  very  desirable 
that  the  questions  by  which  I  am  assailed  on  the  subject,  should 
admit  of  a  decisive  reply  on  my  part. 

"  I  return  you  many  thanks  for  the  kind  interest  you  have 
been  pleased  to  take  in  this  business ;  request  your  remembrance 
at  tlie  throne  of  the  heavenly  grace ;  and  remain, 

"  Your  faithful  brother  and  obedient  servant, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Mr.  Milnor's  letter  received  from  Dr.  Kewley  a  speedy  reply ; 
regretting  the  decision  announced,  and  intimating  a  determina- 
tion, so  soon  as  the  question  of  a  successor  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
George's  should  be  decided,  to  depart  for  Europe.     It  has  since 


HIS  MINISTRY.  213 

become  known,  that  at  this  time,  Dr.  Kewiey  was  a  Romanist  in 
heart,  perhaps  by  commission ;  and  that  his  return  to  his  native 
country  was  for  the  purpose  of  appearing  in  his  appropriate  char- 
acter, as  a  priest  in  the  church  of  Rome. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  Mr.  Feltus  also  wrote  again ;  and  the 
following  extract  from  his  letter  will  show  the  position  in  which 
matters  then  stood  at  St.  George's. 

"  Your  last  letter  "  (to  the  vestry  through  Dr.  Kewiey)  "  was 
worthy  of  yourself,  and  has  done  you  much  honor.  It  has  placed 
you  on  that  high  ground,  which  your  friends  should  have  wished 
you  to  occupy.  There  was  dignity  in  the  position  you  assumed ; 
and  I  trust  God  had  much  to  do  in  directing  both  your  mind  and 
your  pen. 

"  I  am  certainly  informed,  that  the  vestry  met  yesterday,  and 
have  appointed  a  committee  to  be  in  Philadelphia  next  Sunday. 
They  set  out  to-morrow:  two  from  the  vestry,  Mr.  Van  Wagenen, 
and  Mr.  Brackett ;  and  two  from  the  congregation,  Mr.  Hicks, 
and  Mr.  Tredwell.  How  far  they  are  authorized,  I  cannot  pre- 
cisely say,  but  believe  they  are  to  return  and  report ;  whereupon 
a  call  is  to  be  immediately  forwarded.  Don't  resist  the  leadings 
of  divine  Providence.  The  whole  is  unsought  by  you.  I  trust 
and  pray  that  God  may  sweetly  incline  your  mind  to  his  most 
blessed  will ;  and  prevent  you,  if  the  whole  measure  would  not 
be  to  his  glory." 

The  way  was  now  open  for  decisive  steps.  Accordingly,  on 
the  6th  of  June  the  vestry  of  St.  George's  met,  and  made  out 
their  official  call  of  Mr.  Milnor  to  the  rectorship  of  the  parish ; 
accompanying  it  with  the  following  brief,  but  interesting  letter. 

"  St.  George's  Church,  New  York,  June  6,  1816. 
"Rev.  Sir — It  is  with  feelings  of.  great  satisfaction,  that  we 
present  you  the  resolution  inclosed.  Convinced  we  can  offer  you 
no  motive  for  accepting  this  call  but  the  prospect  of  more  extend- 
ed usefulness  in  the  cause  to  which  you  have  so  disinterestedly 
dedicated  your  future  life,  permit  us  to  observe,  that  our  congre- 
gation, now  large,  is  capable,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  of  being 
very  greatly  increased  ;  and  considering  the  anxiety  prevailing 
among  us  to  hear  the  tidings  of  salvation,  we  cherish  the  confident 


214  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

hope,  that  under  your  ministrations,  our  Zion  may  be  brought  to 
rejoice  in  the  strength  of  her  Lord.  We  believe  the  harvest  may 
be  great,  but  the  laborers  are  w^anting ;  and  we  trust  you  will 
not  decline  what  we  hope  you  and  all  of  us  may  be  led  by  the 
Spirit  of  God  to  consider  the  summons  of  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest. 

"  We  are  not  conscious  that  any  circumstance  can  exist,  to 
induce  a  doubt  in  your  mind  of  this  being  a  call  of  duty ;  but, 
anxious  to  omit  no  proper  means  of  securing  to  our  congregation 
your  useful  labors,  if  any  such  circumstance  exist,  we  trust  you 
will  give  us  an  opportunity  to  explain ;  which  we  believe  can  be 
done,  on  all  points,  in  a  manner  entirely  satisfactory. 

"Requesting  your  communications  may  be  addressed  to 
either  of  the  undersigned,  we  remain,  with  sentiments  of  great 
respect,  reverend  sir, 

"  Your  friends, 

"GERRIT  H.  VAN  WAGENElSr, )  ^ 
"HARRY  PETERS,  J  wakdens. 

"  The  Rev.  James  Milnor." 

The  following  was  his  first  reply. 

"Philadelphia,  June  10,  1816. 

"  Gentlemen— I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
favor  of  the  6th  inst,,  and  to  return  you  my  thanks  for  the 
friendly  and  obliging  terms  in  which  you  have  been  good  enough 
to  communicate  the  call  of  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  St. 
George's,  to  the  rectorship  of  that  church. 

"  Flattering  as  I  consider  an  invitation  to  that  respectable 
charge,  I  trust  that  on  a  subject  so  interesting  as  that  of  a  per- 
manent removal  from  the  place  of  my  birth,  to  which  so  many 
attachments,  relative,  social,  and  religious,  bind  my  affections, 
you  will  not  be  surprised  at  any  hesitation  which  has  been  man- 
ifested on  my  part,  in  encouraging  the  measure,  or  that  may  now 
be  evinced  in  regard  to  a  compliance  with  your  offer. 

"  Of  one  thing  I  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  if,  after  proper 
consideration,  duty  appears  to  require  of  me  the  surrender  of 
personal  convenience,  it  shall  be  made ;  and  that,  should  divine 
Providence  direct  my  course  to  New  York,  as  a  measure  of  re- 
spect towards  the  congregation  of  St.  George's,  and  with  a  view 


HIS  MINISTRY.  215 

to  a  better  determination  of  a  point  of  so  much  importance  both 
to  them  and  to  myself,  I  propose  to  visit  New  York  the  latter 
part  of  the  present  week,  and  if  it  be  agreeable,  preach  in  your 
church  on  the  ensuing  Sunday. 

"  In  the  meantime,  the  subject  will  be  deeply  reflected  on  by 
me ;  and  I  trust  I  shall  have  your  prayers  associated  with  my 
own,  imploring  such  a  result  as  shall  be  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  promotion  of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son. 

"  I  am,  with  sentiments  of  great  respect, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 


"Gerrit  H.  Van  Wagenen,  }  hardens  etc  " 
"Harry  Peters,  S  ^^'^*^®^'  ^^°- 


"JAMES  MILNOR." 


In  pursuance  of  the  intimation  thus  given,  Mr.  Milnor  was 
in  New  York  on  Saturday,  the  15th  of  June ;  and  on  Sunday, 
officiated  all  day  at  St.  George's.  His  first  sermon  there  was 
that  which  he  first  preached  after  the  event  of  his  ordination — 
from  Rom.  1  :  16  :  "I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;" 
and  it  was  received,  as  were  all  his  services  there,  with  the 
greatest  satisfaction.  Assiduous  attentions  gathered  round  him 
from  all  parts  of  the  congregation  ;  and  before  the  close  of  his 
visit,  it  became  evident  to  his  own  mind,  that  he  could  not,  con- 
sistently with  duty,  decline  the  call  which  he  had  received.  He 
intimated  as  much  in  his  letters  to  Mrs.  Milnor ;  and  in  Philadel- 
phia, before  his  return,  it  was  known  to  be  a  settled  matter,  thsit 
they  were  to  lose  him  from  among  them.  He  spent  two  Sun- 
days in  St.  George's,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  city,  to  meet 
practically  the  trial  of  a  final  severance  from  persons  and  from 
places  so  long  and  so  deeply  loved. 

While  in  New  York,  he  signified  to  Bishop  "White  the  prob- 
able issue  of  his  visit ;  and  as  the  answer  which  he  received  was 
characteristic  of  that  venerated  man,  and  withal  short,  it  is  here 
inserted. 

"Philadelphia,  June  20,  1816. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  have  received  yours  of  yesterday, 
not  without  sensibility  at  the  prospect  of  the  dissolution  of  a  con- 
nection begun  with  my  approbation,  continued  to  my  entire  sat- 
isfaction, and  expected  by  me  to  be  as  lasting  as  the  remainder 


216  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  my  life.  Being  aware,  however,  how  incompetent  we  are  to 
determine  on  the  comparative  probabilities  of  usefulness  in  dif- 
ferent fields  of  labor,  I  do  not  permit  myself  to  sit  in  judgment 
on  the  question  of  the  wisdom  of  the  measure  adopted  by  you, 
but  most  sincerely  wish  that  it  may  be  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Church,  and  to  the  comfort  of  yourself  and  of  the  amiable  lady 
who  is  equally  interested  in  the  issue. 

"  Had  my  feelings  been  ever  hurt  by  any  thing  which  has 
passed  during  our  connection,  I  should  have  made  the  allowance, 
intimated  in  your  letter,  of  its  being  unintentional ;  but  there 
has  been  no  cause  of  such  an  allowance.  I  will  flatter  myself 
that  there  has  been  as  little  appearance  of  offence  on  my  part ; 
since,  otherwise,  you  would  not  have  declared  so  friendly  regret 
for  the  ceasing  of  the  relation  in  which  we  have  stood  to  one 
another. 

"  I  wrote  the  above,  intending  to  send  it  by  Mr.  Bo  wen ;  but 
after  his  leaving  me,  there  ensued  some  interruptions,  which  con- 
tinued beyond  the  hour  of  his  expected  departure  from  the  city. 
"  I  remain,  your  affectionate  brother, 

"WK  WHITE." 

While  Mr.  Milnor  was  in  New  York,  an  effort,  full  at  first  of 
sanguine  hope,  was  made  to  retain  his  services  for  Philadelphia, 
by  calling  him  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's ;  but  it  was,  with 
sad  regrets,  abandoned,  when  it  became  known  that  his  views 
inclined  so  strongly  towards  St.  George's.  His  acceptance  of  the 
latter  was  signified  to  the  vestry  in  New  York  before  his  return 
to  Philadelphia,  his  letter  of  acceptance  bearing  the  same  date 
with  the  above  from  Bishop  White.     He  wrote  thus : 

"New  York,  June  20,  1816. 
"  Gentlemen — Having  suspended  my  decision  upon  your 
obliging  call  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  George's,  until  I  had  an  op- 
portunity of  visiting  the  congregation,  and  they  of  hearing  me 
perform  divine  service  and  preach,  the  unanimity  which,  I  am 
since  assured,  prevails  both  in  your  body  and  amongst  the  people, 
leaves  no  doubt  in  my  mind  of  its  being  my  duty  to  comply  with 
your  wishes.  ,«^ 

.     "I  accordingly  accept  the  call,  and  implore  the  great  Head 


HIS  MINISTRY  217 

of  the  Church  to  accompany  with  his  blessing  the  connection 
thus  formed  between  us. 

"  Some  time  will  be  requisite  for  procuring  a  dissolution  of 
my  present  engagement  in  Philadelphia,  and  for  settling  my  con- 
cerns there.  Any  accommodation,  therefore,  in  regard  to  the 
time  of  commencing  my  labors,  that  may  be  found  convenient 
to  you,  will  be  acceptable. 

"  I  remain,  gentlemen,  with  gratitude  and  respect, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"  To  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  George's." 

He  had  prepared  a  longer  form  of  reply,  in  which  he  proposed 
to  place  the  call  again  in  the  power  of  the  vestry,  to  be  renewed 
or  suffered  to  expire,  as  they  and  the  people  might  feel  disposed, 
after  having  heard  him  in  their  desk  and  pulpit ;  but,  upon  sec- 
ond thought,  he  laid  aside  the  letter  which  he  had  written,  and 
trusting  to  the  evidences  which  he  saw  around  him,  of  a  unani- 
mous desire  for  his  acceptance,  penned  and  sent  the  brief  letter 
just  given. 

The  canonical  requisitions  in  order  to  his  dismission  from  the 
diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  settlement  in  that  of  New  York, 
were  in  due  time  complied  with  ;  the  formalities  in  Pennsylvania 
bearing  date  June  28,  1816,  and  those  in  New  York  a  few  days 
earlier.  His  rectorship  and  emoluments  in  St.  George's  com- 
menced the  10th  of  July  ;  though  he  had  leave  of  absence  for  the 
settlement  of  his  affairs  in  Philadelphia,  and  did  not  remove  his 
family  till  September.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  twice  vis- 
ited New  York,  spending  two  Sundays  in  July,  the  21st  and  the 
28th,  and  two  in  August,  the  18th  and  the  25th,  with  his  new 
parishioners.  On  the  last  of  these  occasions,  he  for  the  first  time 
administered  among  them  the  Lord's  supper ;  the  number  of 
communicants  being  135.  The  removal  of  his  family,  which 
was  at  the  expense  of  his  New  York  vestry,  appears  to  have 
taken  place  before  the  22d  of  September  ;  since,  from  that  date, 
his  services  in  St.  George's  were  uninterrupted.  His  institution 
by  Bishop  Hobart,  as  rector  of  the  parish,  took  place  on  Monday, 
September  30. 

The  severance  of  one  of  the  last  links  in  the  chain  of  his 


218  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

connection  with  Philadelphia,  was  effected  by  his  receipt  of  the 
last  check  of  the  accounting  warden  of  the  united  churches  for 
$375,  the  balance  of  his  salary  to  the  10th  of  July  ;  accompanied 
by  a  kind  note,  in  which  the  writer  signified  that  his  brother 
wardens  in  New  York  might  send  Mr.  Milnor  bigger  checks,  but 
could  not  give  him  better  love. 


SECTION  II. 


Mr.  Milnor  now  entered  on  that  long  and  uniform  period  of 
his  ministerial  career,  which  closed  but  with  his  life,  and  during 
which,  as  he  kept  no  diary  save  that  of  the  summer  of  1830,  it 
will  be  impossible  to  trace,  in  their  order,  the  events  of  his  his- 
tory. Such  of  his  letters  as  have  been  recovered,  will  furnish 
our  best  knowledge  both  of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  char- 
acter, and  of  his  history  from  year  to  year.  To  these,  indeed, 
much  additional  interest  will  be  given  by  extracts  from  his 
diary  in  the  summer  of  1830,  and  by  several  contributions  from 
others,  touching  the  most  interesting  points  of  his  life. 

"With  the  hearts  of  his  people  from  the  first  united  in  him, 
and  kindly  yielding  to  his  wise  and  gentle  sway,  his  labors  were 
not  long  in  assuming  that  direction  which,  with  little  variation, 
they  held  to  the  end  of  his  ministry.  To  his  regular  services  in 
the  pulpit,  were  soon  added  those  of  his  favorite  Tuesday  and 
Friday  evening  lectures ;  of  his  unceasing  attention  to  parochial 
Sunday-schools ;  of  his  management  of  the  parish  organization 
for  the  promotion  of  missionary  and  other  benevolent  operations ; 
and  of  his  watchful  care  of  the  social  meetings  of  his  communi- 
cants for  prayer  and  exhortation. 

Within  his  own  parish,  the  stream  of  his  ministerial  life  ran 
ever  smooth.  His  preaching  was  always  most  favorably  received, 
and  encouragingly  blessed.  His  Sunday-schools  became  large, 
prosperous,  and,  in  a  short  time,  several  in  number.  His  Friday 
evening  lectures,  which,  when  given  in  the  lecture-room,  were 
always  opened  with  forms  from  the  prayer-book,  but  usually 
closed  with  extemporaneous  prayer,  were  uniformly  to  large  au- 
diences, and  often  scenes  of  deep  and  powerful  interest  through 


HIS  MINISTRY.  219 

the  evident  presence  of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  The  benevolent  opera- 
tions of  his  parish,  conducted  with  wise  reference  to  system,  and 
sustained  by  constant  manifestations  of  liberality,  were  steadily 
prosperous  and  increasingly  productive.  And  the  weekly  meet- 
ings of  his  communicants  for  social  prayer  and  conversation, 
sometimes  attended  by  himself,  but  more  frequently  without  his 
presence,  were  seldom  if  ever  omitted,  and  not  often  destitute 
of  truly  pleasing  tokens  of  the  divine  favor. 

Out  of  his  parish,  however,  his  course  of  labor  lay  through 
much  opposition,  and  his  day  of  action  was  often  stormy.  The 
extemporaneous  close  of  his  lecture-room  exercises,  and  the  meet- 
ings which  he  countenanced  among  his  communicants  for  social 
prayer  without  forms,  encountered  the  constant  and  earnest  dis- 
pleasure of  his  bishop  ;  while  the  public  stand  which  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  take,  in  cooperating  with  Christians  of  other  denomina- 
tions in  distributing  the  Bible  without  note  or  comment,  and  in 
circulating  religious  Tracts  of  an  unsectarian  character,  drew 
upon  him  reiterated  expressions  of  disapprobation,  not  only  from 
his  bishop,  but  also  from  a  large  portion  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
The  manner,  however,  in  which  he  met  all  this  opposition,  stand- 
ing, as  he  always  did,  mildly  firm  to  his  principles,  his  rights, 
and  his  sense  of  duty,  displayed  at  once  the  strength  of  his  char- 
acter and  the  beauty  of  his  religion.  Offensively  or  officiously, 
he  urged  his  peculiarities  upon  none  :  from  the  ground  which  he 
felt  constrained  to  take,  he  was  moved  by  the  reproaches  of  none. 
He  blamed  none  for  the  different  views  of  ministerial  duty  to 
which  they  chose  to  adhere :  he  suffered  the  interference  of  none 
to  disturb  him  in  those  which  he  was  led  deliberately  to  adopt. 
He  sought  no  party  distinctions  and  no  personal  ends,  either 
for  himself  or  for  others :  he  suffered  not  the  stigma  of  offensive 
names,  by  whomsoever  fastened  on  him,  to  withdraw  his  eye  for 
a  moment  from  the  one  great  cause  of  Christ  in  which  he  was 
enlisted  for  life,  and  in  which  he  sought  to  enlist  his  fellow- 
creatures  ;  but  true  to  the  line  of  duty  by  which  a  scripturally 
enlightened  conscience  bade  him  walk,  and  intelligent  of  the 
rights  with  which  the  laws  of  his  church  and  of  his  country  in- 
vested both  himself  and  his  brethren,  he  quietly  took  his  course, 
and  neither  turned  from  it,  nor  faltered  in  it,  until  death. 


220  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

His  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  Bible  before  he  left  Philadel- 
phia, has  already  been  noted.  It  has  also  been  seen,  that  the 
American  Bible  Society  was  organized  May  11,  1816 ;  at  the 
very  time  when  he  was  in  correspondence  with  the  vestry  of  St. 
George's.  At  his  settlement  in  New  York,  therefore,  in  Septem- 
ber, this  central  organization  was  but  just  beginning  to  put  its 
machinery  in  motion ;  and  as  he  lost  no  time,  after  his  removal 
to  this  city,  in  identifying  himself  with  its  friends,  and  had  been 
previously  engaged  in  those  expanding  activities  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Bible  Society,  which,  if  they  did  not  originate  the  general 
institution  in  New  York,  were  at  least  in  close  connection  and 
full  sympathy  with  its  originating  causes,  he  may  be  considered, 
if  not  one  of  the  first  founders  of  that  blessed  institution,  yet  one 
of  that  noble  band  of  Christian  spirits  of  various  name,  but  of 
harmonious  views,  and  of  united  hearts,  through  whose  influence 
its  earliest  foundations  were  laid. 

The  history  of  his  valuable  labors  in  this  Society  belongs 
properly  to  a  later  page  in  this  memoir.  The  mere  fact  of  his 
early  connection  with  its  operations,  is  all  that  it  is  here  necessary 
to  state.  For  the  present  we  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  trace  the 
course  of  his  labors  and  his  life  as  well  as  we  may,  by  the  help 
of  those  few  letters  which  have  been  recovered,  and  which  he 
either  wrote  or  received  in  the  course  of  his  prolonged  and  very 
varied  correspondence. 

The  following  from  a  doubting  parishioner,  presents  us  with 
an  interior  view  of  his  parochial  life.  An  extract  from  it  has 
already  been  given,  in  illustration  of  that  early  period  of  his  relig- 
ious inquiries,  when  he  was  attempting  to  test  his  theory  of  a 
universal  salvation  by  the  word  of  God. 

"New  York,  July  31,  1817. 
"  Rev.  Sir — Emboldened  by  the  permission  which  you  gave 
me,  of  stating  to  you  some  of  the  impediments  which  prevent  me 
from  joining  the  company  of  travellers  to  Zion,  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  enclosing  a  few  thoughts.  I  hope  I  have  not  written 
with  too  much  boldness  and  disrespect,  on  a  subject  of  which  I 
wish  to  think  and  speak  with  reverence  ;  and  that  you  will  favor 
me  with  your  opinion  of  them,  and  say  whether  you  do  not  think 


HIS  MINISTRY.  221 

that  one  so  faithless  and  wavering  had  better  abstain  from  the 
table,  lest,  partaking  with  an  unbelieving  heart,  she  eat  and  drink 
condemnation  to  herself.  Your  candid  sentiments  on  this  sub- 
ject will  much  oblige, 

"  Rev.  sir,  your  friend, 

«C P . 

''  Rev.  Mr.  Milnor. 

"  I  am  much  pressed  by  those  interested  in  my  spiritual  wel- 
fare to  come  forward  as  a  public  professor,  and  join  the  number 
of  those  who  seal  their  faith  and  love  by  partaking  of  an  ordi- 
nance, recommended  by  the  Saviour  as  a  memorial  of  himself. 
My  not  doing  so  is,  I  fear,  misunderstood  as  obstinacy  or  indif- 
ference. But  it  proceeds  from  neither.  Indeed,  I  feel  sincerely 
sorry  that  I  cannot  go  up  with  the  assembly  of  saints,  and  feed 
upon  those  precious  memorials  with  true  faith  and  a  thankful 
heart.  But  while  I  feel  no  assistance  of  faith ;  while  I  know  I 
do  not  experience  the  power  of  religion  in  my  soul ;  while  I  do 
not  embrace  the  whole  gospel  plan  with  all  my  heart;  while 
I  cannot  place  such  dependence  on  it  as  to  say,  '  Here  is  fu-m 
footing,  here  is  solid  rock ' — would  it  not  be  acting  the  hypo- 
crite to  substitute  appearance  for  reality,  the  shadow  for  the 
substance  ? 

"  Let  it  not  be  said  I  indulge  a  sceptical  mind.  Oh,  I  lament 
the  disposition.  I  would  fain  believe  with  all  the  simplicity  of  a 
little  child.  But,  alas,  the  evil  spirit  of  unbelief  is  continually 
rising  and  starting  objections.  Some  stumbling-block  is  ever  in 
the  way.  Some  doubt  that  cannot  be  solved  constantly  impedes 
my  progress  in  the  Christian  course,  and  renders  me  cold  and 
indifferent.  Am  I  asked  to  mention  some  of  these  doubts  ?  They 
are  not  always  present ;  but  often  show  themselves  in  many  dif- 
fering forms.  One  of  the  most  besetting  and  hardest  to  answer, 
is,  that  the  gospel  plan  of  salvation  appears  a  confined  one, 
allowing  its  utmost  latitude,  except  as  explained  by  the  Univer- 
salists,  and  theirs  is  a  creed  which  I  dare  not  adopt.  The  Pre- 
destinarians  say,  that  Christ's  blood  was  not  shed  in  vain  ;  that 
human  nature  is  so  depraved,  so  averse  to  good,  so  far  gone  out 
of  the  right  way,  that,  although  a  remedy  is  provided  for  them, 
.  tjhey  will  never  turn  and  embrace  it ;  but  that  Christ,  by  his 


222  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

sufferings,  purchased  the  redemption  of  all  that  shall  he  saved ; 
that  they  are  bought  with  a  price ;  that  they  are  his  ;  and  that 
therefore  none  of  them  shall  be  lost,  but  his  Spirit  will  operate 
so  powerfully  on  their  minds,  as  to  transform  them,  and  make 
them  willing  to  accept  his  offered  grace.  This  is  generally  re- 
jected as  a  cold,  contracted  thought ;  as  derogating  from  the  gen- 
erous motive  that  brought  the  Son  of  Grod  from  the  abode  of 
unceasing  happiness  to  suffer  and  die,  that  guilty  man  might  be 
fitted  to  partake  of  his  endless  glory. 

"  '  He  left  his  radiant  throne  on  high, 
Left  the  bright  realms  of  bliss, 
And  came  to  earth  to  bleed  and  die ;  ~ 

Was  ever  love  like  this  V 

"  'Tis,  indeed,  a  proof  of  love  and  mercy  enough  to  thaw  the 
frozen  heart  of  apathy  itself  into  feeling  and  devotion.  Why, 
then,  is  mine  so  refractory  ?  Why  will  it  not  believe  and  accept? 
Alas,  because  I  am  a  doubting  Thomas.  I  have  not  faith,  even 
as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed.  When  I  am  about  to  stretch  out  the 
withered  arm,  and  make  a  feeble  attempt  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope 
presented  in  the  Gospel,  this  thought  arrests  it :  Can  it  be  that 
those  transactions  have  taken  place,  and  were  necessary  for  the 
salvation  of  men?  And  is  it  also  necessary  that  they  should 
believe  and  depend  on  them  to  be  saved?  Then,  why  is  the 
knowledge  of  them  so  confined?  If  Christ  came  to  save  the 
world,  and  the  world  cannot  be  saved  but  by  faith  in  him,  what 
is  to  become  of  the  greatest  part  of  its  inhabitants,  who  cannot 
exercise  faith  for  want  of  knowledge  ?  How  many  of  the  ancients, 
who  were  endowed  with  great  capacities,  and  seemed  illumined 
by  a  light  divine,  have  died  without  faith  I  They  could  not  be- 
lieve what  they  had  never  heard.  How  many  good  men  have 
died  ignorant  of  the  contents  of  the  Bible !  Nay,  how  many  in 
modern  times  have  been  sceptical,  who  have  appeared  to  be  sin- 
cere searchers  after  truth,  and  who  have  possessed  capacious 
minds !  Are  we  not  taught  to  believe  this  to  be  the  first  stage 
of  being,  that  we  are  now  fitting  for  the  stations  which  we  are 
hereafter  to  fill  ?  Does  it  not  seem  probable,  then,  that  a  com- 
prehensive mind,  which  here  just  began  to  unfold,  will  expand 
and  enlarge  when  it  enters  that  world  where  faith  shall  be  swal- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  223 

lowed  up  in  vision  ?  And  if  so,  was  it — with  powers  superior, 
in  the  order  of  being,  to  common  minds— created  for  no  purpose  ? 
Does  it  not  appear  to  have  some  part  to  act  hereafter,  and  that 
its  powers  of  perception  will  increase,  when,  freed  from  its  dark 
prison-house,  it  can  soar  and  view  what  mortal  eye  hath  not 
seen,  ear  heard,  or  heart  of  man  conceived  ?  Yet  many  of  these 
have  died  unbelievers,  and  we  are  told,  that  '  without  faith  it  is 
impossible  to  please  God.' 

"  There  are  other  difficulties,  not  so  formidable,  indeed,  which 
still  create  doubts.  One  is,  the  want  of  charity  among  profes- 
sors. If  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  be  love  and  gentleness  ;  if  Christ 
said,  '  By  this  shall  all  men  know  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  love 
one  another,'  what  testimony  to  the  fulfilling  of  this  command 
do  different  sects  exhibit  in  their  charity  for  each  other  ?  Al- 
though travelling  to  the  same  place,  they  yet  obey  not  the  injunc- 
tion, '  Fall  not  out  by  the  way ;'  but  because  they  understand 
not  all  the  directions  alike,  a  spirit  of  acrimony  and  contention 
usurps  the  place  of  brotherly  kindness.  Forgetting  that  they  are 
all  equally  sincere  in  their  interpretations  of  their  Master's  com- 
mands, and  that  he  alone  can  judge  who  has  best  understood  his 
orders,  they  '  snatch  from  his  hand  the  balance  and  the  rod,'  and 
are  often  more  inveterate  against  their  fellow-Christians  that 
differ  from  them,  than  they  are  against  Infidels.  Where,  says 
unbelief,  is  the  transforming  influence,  in  all  this,  of  a  religion 
that  changes  a  sinner  into  a  saint ;  or  if  so  many  paths  lead 
astray  from  the  right  one,  why  are  we  left,  blind  as  we  are,  to 
grope  our  way  with  such  obscure  directions  ? 

"  I  do  not  encourage  these  difficulties ;  they  force  themselves 
upon  me  :  they  weaken  my  confidence  in  revelation ;  take  from 
me  that  prop  on  which  my  hopes,  my  affections,  would  fain  lean, 
and  leave,  instead,  a  cold,  insensible,  doubting  heart.  Would 
such  a  sacrifice  be  acceptable  ?  Or  can  it  possibly  be  brought  to 
the  table  of  the  Lord  ?" 

Answer. 

"New  York,  Aug.  — ,  1817. 
"  My  dear  Madam — To  the  question  with  which  you  close 
your  communication,  I  answer,  without  hesitation,  in  the  nega- 
tive.    With  your  present  feelings,  it  would  be  wrong  in  your 


224  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

friends  to  press  you  on  the  subject  of  communion.  But  the  cir- 
cumstances which  now  restrain  your  approach  to  the  table  of  the 
Lord,  are  of  vastly  more  importance  when  viewed  in  reference 
to  eternity,  than  when  considered  in  reference  to  this  prelimi- 
nary ordinance.  They  form  a  most  alarming  barrier  to  those 
hopes,  which  its  participation  is  designed  not  to  create,  but  to 
strengthen  and  confirm;  and  therefore,  in  regard  not  to  this 
measure  alone,  but  to  that  heavenly  happiness  after  which  its 
faithful  recipients  aspire,  it  is  of  infinite  interest  to  you  that  the 
doubts  with  which  you  are  harassed  should  be  removed.  Noth- 
ing, indeed,  but  a  superior  Power  can  do  this ;  but  if  ho  be  ap- 
pealed to  with  earnestness  and  sincerity,  and  if  fervent  prayer 
he  accompanied  by  the  use  of  all  those  means  of  knowledge  with 
which  we  are  favored,  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  truths  of  reve- 
lation will  shine  into  your  mind  with  a  radiance  that  shall  dispel 
from  it  every  cloud  of  unbelief 

"  Your  letter,  though  leading  to  a  fear  that  your  mind  is  dis- 
turbed on  other  points,  yet  appears  to  me  to  embrace,  substan- 
tially, but  two  difficulties ;  the  latter  of  which,  as  the  less  im- 
portant, I  will  notice  first.  This  is,  the  want  of  charity  among 
professing  Christians.  The  existence  of  this  evil,  to  a  lamenta- 
ble extent,  cannot  be  denied ;  yet  perhaps  it  is  not  so  generally 
prevalent  as  you  imagine.  "Where  the  errors  of  some  sects  affect 
the  vital  truths  of  religion,  those  on  which  salvation  is  deemed 
to  depend,  they  are  assailed  by  others  with  a  vehemence  and  even 
intemperance  of  language,  which  the  maintenance  of  truth,  im- 
portant as  it  is,  will  not  justify.  And  yet,  where  this  is  the  case, 
so  far  from  hostility  to  individuals  being  felt,  the  unhappy  per- 
sons who  are  believed  to  be  in  error  are  often  borne  on  the  hearts 
of  their  opponents  in  secret  prayer  to  God,  and  in  sincere  suppli- 
cation presented  in  their  behalf.  Acrimony,  violent  and  unpar- 
donable, it  is  admitted,  is  sometimes  indulged,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  on  points  of  minor  importance.  But  may  not  much  sin- 
cerity in  these  persons,  though  so  improperly  manifested,  really 
exist?  And  even  where  blamable  motives  prompt  contending 
parties,  does  this  affect  the  truth  of  that  religion,  all  whose  prin- 
ciples and  precepts  are  directed  to  the  rectification  or  removal  of 
those  motives  ?     It  proves  the  deep  and  radical  corruption  of  hu- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  225 

man  nature.  It  furnishes  ground  for  apprehending,  that  the  per- 
sons in  question  have  not  experienced  the  transforming  influence 
of  that  religion  whose  very  basis  is  love,  or  that  it  has  but  par- 
tially operated  its  effects  on  their  minds.  If,  on  a  recurrence  to 
the  system  in  w^hich  they  profess  to  believe,  that  is  found  to  jus- 
tify, even  towards  enemies,  hatred  and  animosity,  then  reject  it 
as  inconsistent  with  the  nature  and  attributes  of  Deity ;  but  if, 
on  the  contrary,  it  is  seen  exacting  of  all  its  professors  the  culti- 
vation of  love  to  God  and  man ;  if  its  great  object  of  conscien*. 
tious  pursuit,  as  there  delineated,  be  that  '  wisdom  which  is  from 
above,'  and  which  is  characterized  as  being  '  first  pure,  then 
peaceable,  gentle,  and  easy  to  be  entreated,  full  of  mercy  and 
good  fruits,  without  partiality  and  without  hypocrisy ;'  then, 
surely,  it  is  wrong  to  transfer  the  blame,  to  which  false  or  mis- 
taken professors  are  justly  liable,  to  a  system  which  condomns 
their  conduct.  'AH  are  not  Israel  that  are  of  Israel.'  Hypo- 
crites and  self-deceivers  have  ever  infested  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  on  other  minds  than  yours  have  produced  prejudices  against 
the  religion  which  they  disgraced.  Nay,  might  we  not  as  well 
condemn  the  eleven  apostles,  because  their  remaining  associate 
was  a  traitor ;  or  the  blessed  Jesus  and  his  instructions,  because 
they  failed  in  producing  the  same  benign  effect  on  the  heart  of 
Judas,  which  we  know  they  did  produce  on  those  of  the  others;  as 
to  say  that,  because  hypocrites  obtrude  themselves  among  the  sin- 
cere, or  because  the  inveterate  deprg^vity  of  the  human  heart  has, 
in  many  professors,  been  but  partially  subdued,  therefore  that 
system  which  stamps  condemnation,  and  pronounces  the  most 
fearful  threatenings  on  their  misconduct,  is  false  and  unfounded  ? 
"  But  is  the  spirit  of  which  you  speak  of  universal  preva- 
lence? Are  ally  or  the  greater  portion  of  Christians,  chargeable 
with  a  want  of  charity  ?  If  it  were  so,  this  would  justly  excite 
doubts  of  the  power  of  Christianity  to  transform  even  its  sincere 
adherents.  Do  the  various  methods  by  which  the  hostility  of 
Christian  sects  has,  in  our  day,  been  so  much  lessened,  furnish 
no  answer  to  your  objection  ?  Is  there  no  proof  that  this  acri- 
monious disposition  is  every  day  yielding  to  the  bland  affections 
which  swayed  the  soul  of  the  Redeemer,  and  which  his  precepts 
and  example  are  calculated  to  infuse  into  all  his  true  disciples  ? 

Mem.  Hilnor.  -  15 


S36  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Do  Bible  societies,  composed  of  ajl  religious  sects ;  missionary 
associations,  uniting  several  denominations  heretofore  deemed 
hostile  to  each  other ;  charitable  institutions  for  the  succor  of 
the  miserable  and  the  instruction  of  the  indigent,  embracing  a 
harmonious  union  of  almost  every  department  of  the  Christian 
world :  nay,  does  the  intercourse  of  private  life  afford  no  testi- 
mony that,  if  not  in  all,  yet  in  many  hearts  the  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel  have  produced  the  happiest,  most  glorious  effects?  I 
really  think,  that  on  consideration,  you  will  perceive  there  is,  in 
your  suggestion,  some  indication  of  the  very  fault  in  yourself 
which  you  condemn  in  Christians ;  and  that,  in  fact,  one  of  the 
strongest  evidences  of  the  truth  of  our  blessed  religion  is  the 
obvious  effects  which  it  has  produced  in  ameliorating  the  man- 
ners and  feelings  of  society,  and  in  its  begetting  a  love  among 
its  professors,  which  we  may  in  vain  look  for  in  any  country 
where  it  has  not  obtained  an  entrance. 

"  The  other  difficulty  which  besets  you,  you  state  to  be  the 
confined  character  of  the  gospel  plan,  '  allo'wing  the  utmost  lati- 
tude, except  as  explained  by  the  Universalists  ;  and  theirs,'  you 
say,  '  is  a  creed  which  you  dare  not  adopt.'  I  am  glad  of  this 
latter  remark,  because  this,  as  well  as  other  expressions  of  your 
letter,  shows  that  your  mental  embarrassments  have  not  only 
failed  to  prepare  you  for  rejecting  wholly  the  system  of  revealed 
truth,  on  which  our  immortal  happiness  depends,  but  also  left 
you  sufficient  discernment  to  see  the  iniquity  of  a  plan  that, 
with  a  fair  show  of  benevolence,  would  prostrate  all  distinctions 
between  good  and  evil,  and  consequently  between  the  opposite 
results,  which  reason,  even  without  revelation,  teaches  us  ought 
severally  to  follow. 

"  You  allude  to  the  confined  aspect  of  the  predestinarian 
scheme.  Except  under  modifications  which  its  strict  adherents 
will  not  admit,  my  past  reflections  have  not  led  me  into  this  view 
of  the  gospel  plan.  Of  course  I  am  not  obliged  to  defend  Chris- 
tianity attended  by  this  incumbrance.  Rejecting,  then,  this 
view  of  it,  where  is  the  ground  for  your  objection  ?  So  far  from 
being  liable  to  it  in  its  own  nature,  the  whole  system  is  predi 
cated  on  the  purest  and  most  extensive  principles  of  universal 
benevolence.  -  :  . 


HIS  MINISTRY.  227 

"  The  race  of  mankind  lose  their  integrity  and  become  rebels 
against  God.  A  restoration  to  purity  and  a  title  to  forgiveness 
are,  by  human  means,  unattainable.  Mere  mercy,  under  the 
direction  of  infinite  wisdom,  in  accordance,  too,  with  the  princi- 
ples of  justice,  provides  a  method  whereby  both  may  be  procured. 
This  is  offered  to  all,  urged  upon  all.  Not  one  of  the  human 
family  is  excluded  from  a  right  to  its  participation  on  the  terms 
prescribed.  A  church,  a  ministry,  and  ordinances,  are  established 
for  the  promulgation  of  this  expanded  scheme  of  beneficence  to 
all  the  nations  of  the  world.  Through  the  agency  of  these,  with 
the  written  word  and  the  accompanying  influences  of  the  Spirit, 
it  is  making  progress  over  the  earth,  is  now  daily  accelerating 
its  march,  and  will  not  stop  till  all  '  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 
become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ.' 

"But  'it  has  not  been  made  known  everywhere  at  once. 
Why,'  you  ask,  '  is  the  knowledge  of  it  still  so  confined  ?  What 
is  to  become  of  those  who,  for  want  of  knowledge,  caimot  exer- 
cise faith  ?'  Might  not  the  question  be  as  well  settled,  first, 
Why  does  not  God  conduct  all  the  operations  of  his  providence 
by  miracle  ?  Why  does  he  operate  at  all  by  human  means  ?  As 
to  the  gradual  progress  of  Christianity,  though  it  would  be  easy 
to  advance  many  conjectural  reasons  for  it,  I  find  the  difficulty, 
if  it  be  one,  answered  in  my  own  mind  by  a  reflection,  which, 
I  believe,  ought  to  satisfy  yours.  Not  only  according  to  the 
declarations  of  Scripture,  but  necessarily,  it  is  of  the  very  es- 
sence of  Deity,  that  his  ways  should  be  inscrutable.  If  our  finite 
apprehensions  could  fathom  all  his  plans,  then  indeed  would  be 
realized  the  fallacious  promise  of  the  tempter  to  our  first  parents : 
we  should  '  become  as  God.'  If  we  could  understand,  or  recon- 
cile his  transactions  in  a  thousand  other  particulars,  on  which 
we  are  equally  blind ;  if  we  could,  for  instance,  without  falling 
into  Atheism,  account  in  any  other  mannier  than  that  in  which 
Scripture  accounts  for  the  origin  and  continued  prevalence  of 
evil ;  if  we  could  tell  why  Omnipotence  has  made  the  circum- 
stances of  nations,  and  the  lots  of  individuals,  and  their  grades 
of  happiness  so  unequal— one  nation  free  and  happy,  another 
enslaved  and  miserable ;  one  individual  born  in  a  climate  mild 
and  genial  as  Eden,  another  freezing  near  the  poles  or  burning 


228  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

under  the  line ;  one  almost  uninterruptedly  prosperous  and  happy, 
another  ever  unsuccessful  and  wretched ;  and  if,  in  innumerable 
other  instances,  we  could  see  the  reason  of  circumstances  and 
events  which,  if  we  believe  in  a  God,  we  must  certainly  admit 
to  be  under  his  control,  then  we  might,  perhaps,  be  able  to  say 
why,  by  an  instantaneous  and  of  course  miraculous  operation, 
he  does  not  communicate  the  light  of  the  Grospel  to  every  portion 
of  the  globe.  I  forbear,  therefore,  to  assign  reasons  for  the 
Almighty,  which  it  has  not  been  his  pleasure  to  reveal.  I  bow 
in  silent  submission.  '  Even  so.  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good 
in  thy  sight.'  '  We  know  not  the  thoughts  of  the  Lord ;  neither 
understand  we  his  counsels.'  It  is  a  presumptuous  arraignment 
of  his  providence  in  me  to  doubt,  though  I  cannot  by  searching 
find  out  the  reason  of  his  ways,  that  they  are  ordered  in  infinite 
wisdom  and  goodness,  and  will  issue  in  those  results  that  shall 
most  promote  his  glory. 

"As  to  the  condemnation  of  those  to  whom  the  Grospel  has 
not  been  revealed,  your  difficulty  is  founded  on  an  assumption, 
to  which,  I  apprehend,  but  few  enlightened  Christians  would 
accede  ;  that  is,  that  the  heathen  will  be  condemned  for  not  exer- 
cising that  faith  which  his  want  of  knowledge  makes  it  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  feel.  This  is  not  my  creed.  St.  Paul  says,  'When 
the  Gentiles,  which  have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things 
contained  in  the  law,  these  having  not  the  law,  are  a  law  unto 
themselves,  which  show  the  work  of  the  law  written  in  their 
hearts ;  their  conscience  also  bearing  witness,  and  their  thoughts 
the  meanwhile  accusing,  or  else  excusing  one  another.'  The 
heathen  world  are  certainly  in  a  deplorable  state  of  ignorance 
and  wickedness,  and  every  endeavor  should  be  made  for  their 
illumination  and  conversion ;  but  my  mind  rejects  with  abhor- 
rence the  sentiment  which  involves  them  indiscriminately  in  a 
sentence  of  condemnation.  Notwithstanding  the  passage  which 
you  quote,  that  'without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God'— 
which  I  think  should  be  restricted  to  those  who  are  capable  of 
its  exercise — there  are  many  considerations  furnished  by  the 
Bible  in  support  of  the  rational  conclusion,  that  God,  who  is 
*no  respecter  of  persons,'  will  not  condemn,  for  the  want  of  this 
grace,  those  who,  without  fault  of  their  own,  are  incompetent  to 


J  HIS  MINISTRY.  229 

its  attainment.  This  opinion  is  advanced  and  supported  by  Drs. 
Macknight,  Whitby,  Clarke,  and  many  other  writers  of  unques- 
tionable piety  and  learning.  It  is  assumed  in  an  approved  body 
of  Calvinistic  divinity  now  before  me  ;  and  if  many  of  a  persua- 
sion deemed  so  rigid  are  willing  to  allow,  as  the  author  declares, 
that  '  the  heathen  will  not  be  condemned  for  not  believing  in 
Christ,  whom  they  never  heard  of,  or  for  not  complying  with  the 
gospel  overture,  that  was  never  made  to  them ;  and  that  invinci- 
ble ignorance,  though  it  be  an  unhappiness  and  a  consequence  of 
our  fallen  state,  is  not  a  crime  ;'  I  see  not  why  we  should  perplex 
ourselves  with  a  difficulty  which  is  of  our  own  creation,  and 
which  arises  not  out  of  any  just  view  of  the  declarations  of  Grod's 
word. 

"  But  if  we  were  constrained  to  leave  the  question  of  the  pos- 
sible salvation  of  unconverted  heathen  undecided,  to  me  it  seems 
not  to  affect  that  of  solicitude  about  our  own.  We  have  the  light 
of  the  Gospel ;  and  whatever  may  be  the  doom  of  those  who  have 
it  not,  if  we  remain  heathen  amid  the  blaze  of  divine  light  with 
which  we  are  surrounded,  we  cannot  doubt  our  own.  And  this 
remark  contains  my  answer  to  your  difficulty  about  those  mod- 
ern sceptics,  who  appear  to  you  to  have  been  sincere  inquirers 
after  truth,  and  who,  with  eminent  talents  for  its  discovery,  have 
yet  continued  unbelievers.  If  you  are  acquainted  with  the  writ- 
ings of  these  persons,  I  ask  you  whether  they  seem  to  have  ever 
sought  after  truth  in  a  disposition  suited  to  its  attainment,  or  in 
a  manner  that  will  excuse  an  ignorance  which  I  cannot  but  be* 
lieve  to  be  wilful  ?  I  declare  that  my  knowledge  of  their  writ- 
ings convinces  me,  that  their  only  search  was  after  fresh  food  for 
scepticism  ;  that  the  depravity  of  their  hearts  is  manifest  in  the 
manner  as  well  as  in  the  substance  of  their  assaults  upon  relig- 
ion ;  and  that  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  of  them  having  availed 
themselves  of  the  assistances  with  which  God  is  ever  ready  to 
supply  real  inquirers  after  truth.  As  a  believer  in  the  Bible,  I 
give  full  credence  to  its  declarations,  that  '  the  world  by  wisdom 
knows  not  God,'  or  his  ways;  that  'the  natural  man  receiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolishness  unto 
him ;  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  dis- 
cerned.'    These  men  were  strangers  to  prayer,  deniers  of  the 


230  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

supernatural  light  which  we  Christians  believe  to  be  requisite 
and  attainable,  and  presumptuous  admirers  of  their  own  natural 
and  acquired  powers.  Can  it  be  wondered  that  they  were  left 
in  spiritual  blindness,  and  destined  to  endure  the  consequences 
of  wilful  unbelief  ? 

"And  now,  madam,  will  you  allow  me,  with  a  frankness 
which  the  candor  of  your  communication  justifies  and  calls  for, 
to  make  an  encouraging  suggestion,  and  to  follow  it  by  a  recom- 
mendation of  that  course  which  I  believe  it  to  be  your  duty  and 
interest  to  pursue  ?  Many  of  your  expressions  indicate  a  sensi- 
bility that  would  seem  inconsistent  with  actual  unbelief ;  espe- 
cially that  desire,  which  you  say  you  feel  for  the  attainment  of  a 
true  faith,  and  your  aversion  to  entertain  doubts,  which,  never- 
theless, involuntarily  obtrude  themselves,  and  appear  to  be  the 
causes  of  much  mental  uneasiness  and  distress.  On  these  favor- 
able circumstances  do  I  rest  my  hope — what  pleasure  will  it 
give  me  to  see  it  realized — that  God's  blessing  will  attend  your 
endeavors  to  come  to  a  better  mind. 

"  Now  the  recommendation,  with  which  I  am  encouraged  to 
follow  this  suggestion,  is  warranted  by  my  own  experience  of 
its  benefits."  [Here  follows  the  account  of  his  own  experience, 
given  in  a  former  extract,  vide  pp.  91-93,  after  which  he  thus 
proceeds :] 

"  I  know  the  charge  of  egotism,  to  which  this  plain  narrative 
would,  in  many  minds,  subject  me.  But  I  hope  I  shall  be  acquit- 
ted of  any  desire  to  boast  when  I  declare,  that  my  only  view  is  to 
incite  you  to  pursue  a  course  which,  from  a  persuasion  of  its  effi- 
cacy, I  can  safely  recommend  ;  and  this,  not  on  the  ground  of  any 
very  elevated  personal  confidence  to  which  it  has  raised  me,  but 
on  that  of  its  having  dismissed  from  my  mind  every  shadow  of 
doubt  as  to  the  true  way  of  salvation,  and  of  its  having  excited 
in  my  heart  fervent  desires  and  a  humble  hope  of  an  ultimate 
attainment  of  that  happiness  to  which  it  leads. 

"  No  exertions  of  our  own,  unblessed  by  the  great  Supreme, 
can  give  us  genuine  faith,  or  qualify  us  to  bring  forth  the  fruits 
of  righteousness.  After  all  that  we  have  done,  we  shall,  if  prop- 
erly enlightened,  be  brought  to  a  simple  reliance  on  the  merits 
and  atonement  of  the  Saviour  for  acceptance  with  God.     Still, 


HIS  MINISTRY.  231 

we  are  called  upon  to  strive ;  and  we  are  encouraged  to  do  so  by 
many  great  and  precious  promises.  But  if,  instead  of  '  working 
out  our  own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,'  and  imploring 
God  to  '  work  in  us  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure ;'  that 
is,  if,  instead  of  uniting  laborious  effort  with  implicit  faith,  we 
neglect  our  own  interests,  and  are  cavilling  at  the  revealed  decla- 
rations, or  the  providential  arrangements  of  God ;  if  we  entertain 
every  phantasy  which  the  enemy  of  our  souls  or  our  own  wicked 
hearts  may  raise  ;  if  we  neglect  prayer,  and  instead  of  attending 
to  our  own  souls,  and  '  striving  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,'  we 
are  impatiently  asking  whether  there  be  'few  that  be  saved,'  or 
involving  ourselves  in  other  matters  too  high  for  us  to  reach,  we 
shall  probably  be  left  to  the  delusions  of  our  own  hearts,  and  fail 
of  our  hopes  of  heaven.  0,  madam,  as  you  value  your  soul,  let 
me  entreat  you  to  turn  your  thoughts  inward ;  and  instead  of  em- 
ploying yourself  on  subjects  which  the  wisest  heads  have  never 
been  able  fully  to  unfold,  go  to  Christ  with  the  simplicity  of  a 
little  child,  and  be  willing  to  learn  of  him.  You  will  find  one  evi- 
dence of  his  favor  an  ample  substitute  for  a  thousand  conjectures ; 
and  he  will  succeed  it  by  tokens  of  love,  that  shall  fill  you  with 
'joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.'  For  '  they  shall  know,  who 
follow  on  to  know  the  Lord.'  '  If  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he 
shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God.'  '  "Wait  on  the 
Lord  :  be  of  good  courage  ;  he  will  strengthen  thy  heart.'  Per- 
severing in  your  endeavors,  you  will  be  made  '  free  from  sin ;' 
and  becoming  'the  servant  of  God,  you  will  have  your  fruit  unto 
holiness,  and  the  end  everlasting  life.' 

"  I  pray  God  to  give  you  his  blessing,  and  remain, 
"  Your  obedient  servant,  and  affectionate  pastor, 

"JAMES  MILNOR" 

This  may  be  called  a  wise  as  well  as  faithful  piece  of  Christian 
teaching  and  advice  ;  and  if  she  to  whom  it  was  addressed  be 
not  finally  found  one  of  the  gems  in  Milnor's  crown  of  rejoicing, 
it  will  not  be  because  his  letter  failed  of  the  duty  which  he  owed 
as  her  spiritual  guide. 

The  next  two  letters  are  of  a  different  character  ;  though  they 
also  give  us  an  interior  view  of  his  parochial  life. 


232  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  New  York,  August  18,  1817. 

"  Sir — You  will,  I  hope,  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in  troubling 
you  with  the  perusal  of  these  lines ;  but  the  urgency  I  have  to  be 
informed  respecting  many  points  in  religion,  has,  prompted  me  to 
this  method  of  being  satisfied,  and  must  furnish  my  excuse ;  while 
the  high  ground  on  which  you  stand  as  an  ecclesiastic,  pointed 
you  out  as  one  fully  competent "  to  satisfy  my  inquiries. 

"  I  have,  within  this  last  year,  imbibed — how,  I  scarcely 
know — ideas  that  vary  very  little,  if  any,  from  the  principles  of 
Deism.  I  have  lately  commenced  an  acquaintance  with  a  young 
man,  who  has  advanced  many  things  to  stagger  my  faith  in  the 
authenticity  of  the  Bible,  and,  of  course,  in  the  being  of  a  Saviour. 
You  will  probably  start  at  a  young  person's  avowing  so  much  ; 
for  I  am  but  nineteen,  and  was  brought  up  with  strictness  in  the 
Episcopal  persuasion.  His  chief  argument  is  the  contradictions 
which  appear  in  the  Bible,  and  which  would  not  be  found  had  it 
been  written  by  inspiration  of  God." 

The  letter  then  proceeds  with  a  catalogue  of  these  alleged 
contradictions  from  the  Pentateuch ;  after  which  it  thus  concludes : 

"  I  have,  as  yet,  proceeded  no  farther  in  conning  the  different 
parts  of  the  Scriptures  ;  but  a  satisfactory  explanation  of  the 
preceding  passages  will  go  far,  if  not  entirely,  to  remove  my 
doubts,  as  I  am  open  to  conviction.  I  hope  you  will  think  me 
right  in  proclaiming  my  doubts,  that  I  may  have  them,  if  possible, 
removed.  I  shall  wait  with  impatience  till  I  receive  an  answer. 
"  I  remain  yours,  etc. 

5) 

"Rev.  James  MiLNOR. 

"  P.  S.  Please  direct  Charles  H.  Fitz  Edmond,  to  be  left  at 
the  po^t-office  till  called  for." 

This  anonymous  young  sceptic  seems  to  have  been  one  of  those 
sincere  inquirers  after  truth,  who  boast  of  their  openness  to  con- 
viction, while  evidently  deeming  their  objections  against  the  Bible 
irremovable.  He  had  an  answer  probably  different  from  what 
he  expected. 

"  Beekman-street,  No.  27,  Aug.  20,  1817. 

"  Sir — With  the  sincerest  disposition,  I  trust,  to  assist,  so  far 
as  I  am  able,  any  sincere  inquirer  after  truth,  it  will  afford  me 


HIS  MINISTRY.  233 

very  great  pleasure,  should  such  be  your  pursuit,  to  be  service- 
able to  you.  But  it  comports  neither  with  my  sense  of  propriety, 
nor  with  my  personal  convenience,  to  do  this  through  the  medium 
of  an  epistolary  correspondence,  which  may  run  into  much 
length,  and  in  which,  for  want  of  explanations,  too  minute  to  be 
put  on  paper,  misunderstanding  may  take  place.  If  you  have 
been  seduced  into  a  connection  with  a  persoii  who  has  hardened 
his  heart  into  Deism,  and,  with  the  malignant  disposition  which 
characterizes  the  Infidel,  is  not  content  to  destroy  his  bwn  soul, 
but  seeks  to  make  you  his  companion  in  misery,  I  beseech  you, 
my  young  friend,  break  off  your  intercourse  with  him  ;  seek  the 
establishment  of  your  mind  in  the  most  interesting  of  all  con- 
cerns ;  and  when  God  has  enlightened  you  to  a  clear  discovery 
and  reception  of  religious  truth,  he  may  make  you  a  means  of 
converting  the  unhappy  young  man.  He  has  my  prayers  that  he 
may  not,  by  cold  unbelief,  experience  a  fate  as  calamitous  as  that 
of  the  Egyptian  prince,  whose  being  given  over  to  the  delusions 
of  his  own  heart,  instead  of  exciting  a  cavil  against  the  Bible, 
should  be  a  warning  to  us,  lest  we  also  fall  into  the  same  con- 
demnation. 

"  Every  objection  stated  in  your  letter  has  been  successively 
urged  by  all  the  infidel  writers  who  have,  in  turn,  opposed  their 
puny  efforts  to  the  truth  of  Grod,  and  as  often  been  with  readiness 
refuted.  They  constitute  but  a  small  part  of  the  trivial  weap- 
ons by  which  a  system;  has  been  assailed,  whose  foundations  are 
as  eternal  as  the  heavens,  and  by  no  exertions  of  mortal  man  can 
be  overthrown,  or  even  shaken.  On  them,  as  well  as  other  diffi- 
culties, I  shall  be  happy  to  converse  with  you  at  any  time,  in  my 
own  house,  provided  you  are  disposed  with  seriousness  and  sin- 
cerity to  seek  satisfaction  on  points  that  have  unhappily  disturbed 
your  belief  in  the  Scriptures. 

"I  have  myself  known  the  evil  of  an  unbelieving  heart.  I 
bless  God  that  I  have  been  brought  by  his  mercy  into  a  stead- 
fastness of  faith  that  men  and  devils  cannot  shake.  It  is  my 
daily  happiness  to  enjoy  a  confidence  that  smooths  every  difficulty 
in  life,  inspires  a  serenity  and  peace  which  the  infidel  cannot 
know,  and  directs  my  view  to  an  eternity  of  happiness,  which 
Grod  has  reserved  for  those  who  believe  his  promises,  and  devote 


234  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

themselves  to  his  service.  Such,  my  dear  sir,  will  be  your  expe- 
rience, if  you  use  those  means  which  a  merciful  God  has  given 
us  for  attaining  his  forgiveness  and  favor. 

"  I  am  your  sincere  well-wisher, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Judiciously  differing  responses  to  sceptical  inquirers,  according 
as  their  appeals  were  prompted  by  a  serious  solicitude  to  know 
and  obey  the  truth,  or  by  the  spirit  of  precocious  and  self-compla- 
cent cavil.  It  is  evident  from  both  appeals,  that  the  first  year 
of  Mr.  Milnor's  ministry  in  St.  George's  had  given  him  a  deep 
reach  into  minds  of  various  habits ;  and  that  his  teachings  were 
working  with  power  among  the  surrounding  elements  of  scepti- 
cism and  unbelief,  as  well  as  among  those  of  humble  honesty  and 
earnestness  in  the  concerns  of  our  higher  life. 

The  summer  of  1817  was  occupied  by  the  vestry  of  St. 
George's  in  erecting  the  Sunday-school  and  lecture  rooms,  which 
have  long  stood  on  the  rear  of  the  church-grounds ;  rooms  conse- 
crated by  better  forms  than  those  of  man's  device — ^the  overshad- 
owing presence  and  the  inworking  power  of  God's  ever-gracious 
Spirit — rooms  in  which  some  of  Mr.  Milnor's  best  labors  were 
performed,  and  many  of  his  best  fruits  gathered. 

The  building  in  which  these  rooms  are  contained  being  fin- 
ished and  ready  for  use,  it  was  first  opened  for  religious  services 
on  the  evening  of  Sunday,  November  9,  1817.  At  the  hour  for 
service,  the  vestry  of  the  parish,  accompanied  by  the  officers  of 
the  New  York  Sunday-school  Union  Society,  the  superintendent, 
teachers,  and  children  of  the  parochial  schools,  and  a  number  of 
respectable  visitors,  proceeded  to  the  upper  room  ;  where,  after 
appropriate  prayers,  a  short  address  was  delivered  by  the  rector, 
and  a  suitable  hymn  sung  by  the  children.  In  due  order,  they 
then  proceeded  to  the  adjoining  church,  where  a  large  congrega- 
tion were  awaiting  them,  and  where,  after  prayers  by  the  rector, 
and  a  psalm  by  the  congregation,  a  hymn  was  sung  responsively 
by  the  children  and  teachers.  The  rector  then  delivered  an 
interesting  address ;  and  the  whole  service  closed  with  a  third 
hymn,  sung  responsively  by  the  congregation  and  the  children, 
and  with  the  customary  benediction. 

The  occasion  was  one  of  abiding  interest.     It  was  an  evidence 


HIS  MINISTRY.  235 

to  Mr.  Milnor  of  his  first  year's  prosperity  in  his  work ;  and  it 
opelied  means  by  which,  for  nearly  thirty  years  longer,  his  labors 
were  rendered  increasingly  effective  and  fruitful.  Many  plants 
of  his  heavenly  Father's  planting,  are  now  growing  in  heaven, 
whose  roots  first  struck  into  the  good  soil  of  graciously  prepared 
hearts  in  old  St.  George's  Sunday-school  and  lecture  room. 

The  occasion,  indeed,  had  a  more  ephemeral,  though,  for  the 
day,  a  more  stirriipig  memory,  from  the  very  vigilance  with  which 
the  new  rector  of  St.  George's  was  watched  in  certain  quarters, 
and  from  the  representations  made  there  to  the  effect,  that  before 
his  Sunday-school  address,  he  had  omitted  the  regular  church- 
service.  His  parish  Sunday-schools  were  at  this  time  connected, 
not  with  the  Episcopal,  but  with  the  New  York  Sunday-school 
Union;  the  latter  being  a  society  composed  of  different  Christian 
denominations.  This  relation  of  his  schools  was  distasteful  in 
the  quarters  referred  to,  and  disposed  his  vigilant  observers  to 
seize,  for  censure,  the  first  irregularity  with  which  he  should  be 
found  chargeable.  Hence  the  promptness  with  which  his  noised 
omission  was  assailed.  The  ferment,  however,  suddenly  subsided 
upon  its  becoming  more  accurately  known,  that  on  the  occasion 
referred  to,  he  had  really  been  chargeable  with  no  irregularity. 

The  noise  of  this  brief  stir  was  heard  in  other  places  besides 
New  York,  as  he  learned  by  a  letter  from  a  friend  in  Philadel- 
phia, of  which  the  following  is  an  extract. 

,j  '  "Philadelphia,  January  6,  1818.     ■*, 

"  My  dear  Friend — I  feel  much  disposed  to  write  a  very  long 
letter,  and  to  give  you  a  vast  deal  of  interesting  information, 
both  about  yourself  and  those  who  are  keeping  an  eye  on  all 
your  movements  and  irregularities,  particularly  on  Sunday-school 
occasions.  But  as  I  fear  you  have  lost  much  of  the  interest  which 
you  once  felt  in  Philadelphia  and  Philadelphia  friends,  I  will 
confine  myself  to  the  main  object  of  my  letter.  I  must,  how- 
ever, by  the  way,  just  let  you  know  that  the  hints,  and  insinua- 
tions, and  innuendoes,  which  passed  pretty  freely  among  certain 
individuals,  and  those  not  a  few,  relative  to  your  omission  of  the 
church-service  on  the  occasion  of  your  late  Sunday-school  meet- 
ing, when  you  delivered  your  address,  have  all  recoiled  on  their 


236  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

own  heads;  and  it  has  been  pretty  satisfactorily  proven,  to  the 
regret,  I  fear,  of  some,  that  you  are  yet  a  regular  man,"       , 

From  the  date  of  the  letters  which  Mr.  Milnor  wrote  to  his 
two  sceptical  inquirers  in  the  summer  of  1817,  the  period  of  almost 
four  years,  running  on  to  April,  1821,  is,  so  far  as  letters  and  other 
documentary  traces  of  his  course  are  concerned,  an  almost  total 
blank;  but  little,  touching  that  period,  having  been  recovered 
from  the  absorbing  gulf  of  the  past.  Of  his  life,  however,  dur- 
ing that  period,  a  sufficiently  distinct  idea  may  be  formed  from 
the  next  letter  which  we  are  enabled  to  present.  It  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  Rev.  Charles  P.  Mcllvaine,  and  dated, 

"  New  York,  April  9,  f821. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  have  to  return  you  my  sincere 
thanks  for  the  pleasure  which  you  afforded  me,  in  introducing 
to  my  acquaintance  your  friend  Mr.  Robinson;  from  whose  so- 
ciety, so  far  as  it  was  my  privilege  to  enjoy  it  during  his  stay  in 
New  York,  I  derived  no  little  gratification.  One  of  the  most 
interesting  topics  of  our  conversation  was  yourself,  and  the  mo- 
mentous interests  which  the  favor  of  a  kind  Providence  is  per- 
mitting you,  as  an  honored  instrument,  so  signally  to  promote. 
I  congratulate  you,  my  very  dear  young  friend,  on  the  success 
which  I  learn  from  other  sources,  as  well  as  the  one  just  men- 
tioned, is  accompanying  your  labors  in  the  gospel  field ;  and  de- 
voutly pray  that  God,  whose  we  are,  and  whom  we  serve,  to 
continue  his  blessing  on  the  good  work  to  which  I  have  no  doubt 
his  Spirit  has  called  you. 

"I  am  happy  now  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  reciprocate  your 
kindness  in  making  known  to  me  your  friend,  Mr.  Robinson,  by 
presenting  to  you  one  of  mine^  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tyng,  a  recent  pupil 
of  Bishop  Griswold,  who  is  anxious  to  be  employed  without  delay 
in  the  work  of  an  evangelist.  I  have  thought,  my  dear  friend, 
that  God  has  given  me  an  opportunity  in  him  of  gratifying  all 
Mr.  Robinson's  wishes.  He  is  a  young  gentleman  of  good  talents 
and  acquirements;  of  personal  piety  and  agreeable  maimers;  of 
decidedly  evangelical  views;  a  moderate  churchman,  who  loves 
his  own  communion,  but  does  not  exclude  from  his  affections  any 


HIS  MINISTRY.  237 

who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity,  and  a  pleasing 
speaker.  I  am  persuaded  that  Mr.  Tyng's  heart  is  so  much  in 
the  work  as  to  promise  great  success  to  his  exertions ;  and  that, 
should  he  become  an  inmate  of  our  friend's  family,  he  will  com- 
mend himself  to  their  friendship  and  esteem. 

"Although  I  feel  myself  very  much  to  blame  in  delaying  so 
long  to  write  to  you,  yet  I  hope  you  are  prepared  to  receive  an 
apology,  which  will  mitigate  in  some  degree  the  severity  of  your 
censure.  Since  last  fall,  I  have  had  two  lectures  in  the  week, 
besides  my  services  on  Sunday  ;  catechetical  exercises  ;  superin- 
tendence of  Jive  Sunday-schools  ;  various  agencies  in  public  insti- 
tutions ;  and  from  my  peculiar  situation  here,  a  greater  amount 
of  parochial  and  extra  duty  than  usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  a  sin- 
gle presbyter.  I  dp  not  mention  these  things  boastingly.  Alas, 
I  am  afflictingly  sensible  how  little  I  do  for  Him  who  has  done  so 
much  for  me.  A  better  qualified  man  would,  no  doubt,  with 
much  greater  facility  get  through  such  a  course  of  duty  as  that 
in  which  I  am  engaged.  But  for  me,  the  situation  which  I  fill  is 
an  arduous  one,  and  requires  my  unremitted  and  laborious  atten- 
tion to  go  through  its  exactions  with  any  tolerable  satisfaction  to 
my  own  mind. 

"  I  wish  I  could  give  you  more  favorable  accounts  than  I  hon- 
estly can  of  the  state  of  spiritual  things  amongst  us.  Luke- 
warmness  and  formality,  error  in  doctrine  and  latitudinarianism 
in  practice,  deform,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  all  our  churches. 
In  all  of  them  are  to  be  found  a  few  who  have  not  bowed  the 
knee  to  Baal ;  but  I  am  afraid  our  city,  large  as  it  is,  would  not, 
out  of  the  Episcopal  churches,  furnish  theprophet's  number.  In 
St.  Greorge's,  we  continue  to  have  a  goodly  number  of  devoted, 
praying  people ;  our  Sunday-schools  are  flourishing ;  and  every 
season  of  communion  exhibits  some  addition  to  the  number  of 
Christ's  true  disciples.  The  congregation  have  now,  for  near 
five  years,  been  proof  against  every  attempt  to  sow  dissension 
among  them ;  and  those  who  have  not  experimentally  felt  its 
power,  are  still  willing  to  hear  the  truth.  But  what  cause  of 
grief  is  it  to  any  minister,  whose  heart's  desire  and  prayer  is  the 
salvation  of  his  people,  to  see  so  many,  young  and  old,  still  stran- 
gers to  a  crucified  Saviour ;  still  living  to  the  world ;  still  un- 


238  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

mindful  of  the  interests  of  their  never-dying  souls.  It  is  a 
ground  of  unspeakable  gratitude  that  any  should,  through  the 
divine  blessing  on  our  labors,  be  plucked  as  brands  from  the 
burning ;  but  when  we  are  filled  with  a  sense  of  the  value  of  the 
souls  committed  to  our  charge,  how  feelingly  alive  should  we  be 
to  the  consideration  of  the  immense  danger  to  ourselves,  if  one 
be  lost  through  our  negligence  or  remissness!  God  grant,  my 
endeared  fellow-laborer,  that  neither  you  nor  I  may  be  the  sub- 
ject of  this  awful  guilt." 

After  alluding,  in  rather  pointed  terms,  to  the  opposition 
which  he  had  been  called  to  encounter,  he  adds, 

"  But  if  much  more  serious  consequences  than  I  have  occa- 
sion to  apprehend,  were  to  follow  my  adhereuQe  to  that  ministe- 
rial course,  which  the  finger  of  Grod  marked  out  for  me  at  its 
beginning,  and  to  which,  by  divine  grace,  I  have  been  enabled 
hitherto  to  keep,  I  trust  nothing  would  terrify  or  allure  me  from 
it ;  unless,  which  may  God  prevent,  I  should  merit  the  withdraw- 
ing of  those  influences  from  above,  which  alone  can  enable  sCny 
of  us  to  persevere  to  the  end. 

"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

*'  P.  S.  Mr.  Tyng  can  give  you  information,  if  you  have  not 
before  had  it,  respecting  a  splendid  testamentary  benefaction  to 
Bishop  Hobart's  seminary.  May  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
overrule  its  application  to  the  promotion  of  his  own  glory  and 
the  salvation  of  sinners.  If  the  General  Seminary  had  remained 
in  New  York,"  (it  had  been  removed  to  New  Haven,)  "  the  legacy 
would  have  been  theirs.  Some  think,  if  it  be  brought  back  into 
this  state,  they  may  yet  claim  it.  But  Bishop  Hobart's  lawyers 
say  it  is  a  clear  case  for  him.  As  I  am  a  minister  and  no  law- 
yer, it  becomes  me  to  listen  to  others,  but  to  abstain  from  giving 
any  opinion  myself.     '  iVe  sutor  ultra  crepidarn.'' 

"  Yours  truly,  « j.  m." 

The  legacy  mentioned  in  this  postscript,  was  "The  Sherrid 
Legacy ;"  and  the  "  Bishop  Hobart's  Seminary,"  a  diocesan  school 
of  divinity,  organized,  under  that  bishop's  patronage,  after  the 
removal  of  the  General  Seminary  to  New  Haven,  and,  as  being 


HIS  MINISTRY.  239 

in  New  York,  claiming  the  legacy  under  the  terms  of  the  be- 
quest. The  General  Seminary  was  afterwards  restored  to  New 
York,  Bishop  Hobart's  school  merged  in  it,  and  the  Sherrid  legacy 
settled  as  a  part  of  its  endowment. 

As  to  the  account,  contained  in  t^ie  foregoing  letter,  of  the 
engrossing  character  of  his  avocations,  it  might  be  taken  and 
spread  over  his  entire  life  in  New  York,  and  be  found  a  suffi- 
ciently accurate  description  of  the  whole.  His  thorough  busi- 
ness habits  before  he  entered  the  ministry,  made  him  a  thorough 
business  man  after  his  entrance.  "Wherever  ecclesiastical  inter- 
ests called  for  business  talents,  he  was  sure  to  be  called ;  except, 
indeed,  in  those  quarters  where  opposition  to  his  theological  views 
and  his  ministerial  course  kept  him,  to  some  extent,  out  of  posts 
of  labor  which  he  might  otherwise  have  filled  to  profit.  This, 
however,  only  left  him  a  more  available  man  in  the  general  relig- 
ious institutions  of  the  city,  with  many  of  which  he  became,  as 
years  rolled  by,  more  and  more  closely  identified,  and  through 
which  he  became  more  and  more  widely  useful.  In  consequence 
of  his  rare  qualifications  for  business,  he  became  emphatically  a 
busy  man,  not  in  the  select  world  of  letters  and  of  authorship, 
but  in  the  great  world  of  action  and  of  live  results.  He  became 
embodied^in  the  living  Christianity  of  his  age,  and  his  memoirs 
will  be  found  best  written,  not  on  the  pages  of  any  book,  but  in 
the  effects  of  the  many  institutions  which  he  served — in  the 
souls  of  those  multitudes  whose  salvation  he  has  been,  and  yet 
will  be  one  of  the  instruments  of  securing. 

Beyond  the  general  application  of  these  remarks  to  his  labors, , 
during  the  years  which  we  have  seen  so  blank  of  letters  and 
other  documentary  traces  of  his  course,  little  remains  to  be  said. . 
The  following  bare  incidents  are  all  that  have  been  recovered. 
Within  that  period  he  received  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania the  degree  of  (^octor  of  divinity.  On  the  evening  of  Sun- 
day, December  20,  1818,  he  preached  a  sermon  in  St.  George's 
for  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Missionary  Society  of  New  York, 
the  effectiveness  of  which  had  its  evidence  in  the  collection  ensu- 
ing, of  $505.  His  list  of  sermons,  moreover,  and  of  the  times  and, 
places  of  their  delivery,  shows  that  his  labors  in  the  pulpit  were 
arduous  and-  unceasing ;  save  that  from  August  27,  1820,  to 


240  MEMOIR  QF  DR.  MILNOR. 

September  17 — four  Sundays — he  was  confined  to  his  house  by 
a  painful  disease  which  he  describes  as  an  "  abscess." 

Passing,  now,  with  the  current  of  events,  we  meet  one  which 
suggests  a  reflection.  No  man^  is  perfect.  Perhaps  he  is  most 
perfect,  or  most  likely  to  become  so,  who  cannot  sleep  well,  till 
in  the  ear  of  a  wronged  fellow-man,  he  has  acknowledged  his 
infirmity,  and  any  act  of  injustice  into  which  it  may  have  be- 
trayed him.  Miserable  sinners  that  we  are,  we  can  confess  our 
trespasses  to  Gtod  with  tenfold  more  courage  than  that  with 
which  we  can  acknowledge  a  wrong  to  a  fellow-sinner.  Dr. 
Milnor  was  not  perfect,  but  he  was  perfect  enough  to  do  this 
difficult  thing.  Witness  the  following  interchange  of  letters, 
which  are  to  the  credit  of  both  the  parties  concerned.  The  indi- 
vidual whom  Dr.  Milnor  addressed,  is  still  living ;  his  name, 
therefore,  is  withheld. 

"  Beekman-strebt,  Wednesday  evening,  Nov.  13,  1822. 

"  My  dear  Sir — I  have  felt  concerned,  since  I  left  you  this 
afternoon,  lest,  under  a  momentary  warmth  of  feeling,  excited 
by  the  expression  of  opinions  on  your  part,  in  reference  to  Bible 
Societies,  for  which  I  was  wholly  unprepared,  I  may  have  made 
a  remark  or  two  calculated  to  wound  you.  The  institutions 
which  you  condemned,  have  a  stronger  hold  on  tny  aifections 
than  any  in  existence  of  merely  human  origin ;  and  to  their  sup- 
port I  have  devoted,  and  shall  continue  to  devote  my  best  exer- 
tions, under  the  impression  that,  next  to  my  immediate  duties 
as  the  pastor  of  a  congregation,  I  can  in  no  other  way  so  efficiently 
subserve  the  cause  of  Christ.  But  on  this  subject  you  have  a 
right  to  your  opinion,  as  I  have  to  mine ;  and  therefore,  though  I 
lament  the  change  of  sentiment  which  you  professed,  yet  I  also 
regret  that  any  allusion  to  it  should  have  been  made  in  the  rapid 
conversation  which  passed  between  us,  that  might  interfere  with 
our  future  good  understanding  upon  the  many  subjects  in  which, 
as  ministers  and  Christians,  we  no  doubt  agree. 

"Although  I  acknowledge  myself  as  tenacious  as  any  man  of 
opinions,  formed  after  as  long  consideration  as  I  have  given  to 
the  Bible  cause,  and  shall  not  shrink,  on  all  proper  occasions, 
from  their  maintenance ;  yet  I  wish  to  hold  these,  and  all  others, 


HIS  MINISTRY.  241 

in  a  spirit  of  meekness,  and  if  at  any  time  betrayed  into  improper 
warmth  of  expression,  it  will  give  me  as  great  pleasure  as  it  now 
does,  to  own  my  sorrow.  I  write  to  you  in  Christian  confidence, 
being,  with  much  regard, 

"  Your  brother  in  the  Lord, 

^  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

"Rev.  Dr. . 

Reply  to  the   foregoing. 

"New  York,  Nov.  18,  1822. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  have  been  prevented,  by  an  engage- 
ment which  completely  occupied  my  thoughts,  from  replying  to 
your  note  of  the  13th  inst.,  and  beg  you  will  excuse  the  delay. 

"  My  feelings,  it  is  true,  were  somewhat  wounded  by  your 
remarks,  particularly  in  imputing  to  me  unworthy  motives  for 
changing  my  opinion  on  the  subject  upon  which  we  formerly 
agreed,  but  now  differ.  But  attributing  those  remarks  to  a  mo- 
mentary excitement,  which  it  was  very  natural  to  expect,  I  did 
not  suffer  the  unpleasant  impression  to  remain  on  my  mind ;  and 
I  most  cordially  reciprocate  your  desire,  that,  though  we  may 
continue  to  disagree  in  opinion  on  a  particular  mode  of  dissemi- 
nating religious  knowledge,  yet  nothing  that  has  passed  should 
interrupt  the  harmony  and  brotherly  love  which  ought  to  subsist 
between  tis  as  ministers  of  the  same  church  and  disciples  of  the 
same  Lord. 

"  In  haste,  but  with  great  respect  and  esteem,  I  remain, 

"Yours, 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor.'" 

Here,  again,  from  the  close  of  1822  till  towards  the  spring 
of  1825,  another  period,  of  more  than  two  years,  must  be  passed 
over,  with  no  other  notices  of  his  life  than  those  which  lie  on  the 
silent  records,  and  live  in  the  spiritual  results  of  his  ceaseless 
activities. 

•  '  At  the  beginning  of  1825,  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  gout 
in  the  stomach ;  and  the  attack  proved  so  severe  that,  at  last,  he 
seemed  to  be  yielding  up  his  spirit.  His  family,  his  physioiany 
himself,  believed,  on  Sunday  morning,  that  while  his  parishion- 
ers were  mournfully  entering  the  doors  of  their  sanctuary,  he  wa» 
in  articulo  mortis,  passing  through  the  very  gates  of  death.    In* 

Mem.  Milnor.  1 6 


M2  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

deed,  it  was  reported  through  the  city  that  his  decease  had  actu- 
ally taken  place ;  and  the  writer  of  this,  who  was  then  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  remembers  with  great 
distinctness,  the  sensation  which  ran  through  the  hearts,  making 
itself  visible  in  the  saddened  countenances,  and  audible  in  the 
low  sighs  of  his  fellow-students,  when  the  announcement  came 
that  morning  that  Dr.  Milnor  was  dead.  The  afflictive  intelli- 
gence, however,  was  soon  contradicted ;  and  it  was  found  that, 
at  the  time  when  he  was  pronounced  in  a  dying  state,  he  was 
passing  a  critical  point  in  his  disease,  after  which  he  began  sen- 
sibly to  recover.  In  the  rapid  progress  of  his  disease,  he  sunk, 
lower  and  lower,  till  his  feet  touched  the  earth  at  the  very  brink 
of  the  grave ;  but  at  that  point,  as  if  the  touch  had  brought  him 
where  the  power  of  God  was  waiting  to  arrest  his  descent  into 
the  dark  chambers  of  the  dead,  he  at  once  rebounded,  and  by  slow 
but  steady  degrees  sprang  up  again  to  the  cheerful  day  of  health 
and  duty.  His  first  sermon  after  his  illness  was  preached  the 
13th  of  March. 

The  peril  through  which  he  thus  passed,  made  the  public 
aware  of  the  great  value  of  his  character  and  influence ;  and 
showed,  in  the  most  touching  manner,  the  depth  and  strength  of 
the  hold  which  he  had  obtained  upon  the  respect,  the  love,  the 
veneration,  of  his  fellow-citizens.  For  weeks,  the  whole  religious 
community  of  New  York,  without  distinction  of  name,  were 
laboring  in  prayer  for  him  unto  God.  From  Sabbath  to  Sabbath 
scarcely  a  sanctuary  was  open  in  which  the  throne  of  mercy  was 
not  besieged  with  most  earnest  supplications  in  his  behalf.  The 
lecture-room  and  prayer-meetings  of  his  own  dear  flock,  in  par- 
ticular, became  almost  daily  scenes  of  solemn,  tearful,  trembling 
wrestlings  with  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  that  yet  a  little  while 
he  might  be  spared.  Faith,  hope,  pleading  faith,  humble  hope, 
were  there ;  bowed  down,  indeed,  and  almost  awed  to  silence ; 
but  laboring  all  the  more  intensely  and  strugglingly,  from  the 
very  pressure  under  which  they  bent ;  and  seeming  to  say,  though 
in  words  it  came  not,  "  Lord,  we  cannot  give  him  up ;  his  work 
is  not  done :  we  cannot  give  him  up."  And  the  Lord  heard  and 
spared ;  and  many  were  the  adoring  disciples^  who  thenceforth 
went  on  their  way,  and  still  go  on  their  way,  strong  in  the  feel- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  ((U  H  I  "^  ''S'ISI  ^  ^  ^       ' 

ing  and  the  faith  that  the  twenty  added  years  of  theif  pai^toi''^  liffiN.  if\^y^ 
were  the  gracious  gift  of  a  Father  in  heaven  to  those  unwontedly 
earnest  and  persevering  prayers. 

But  it  will  be  asked,  what  were  his  own  views  while  passing 
through  the  scenes  now  described  ?  His  own  pen  and  those  of 
his  nearest  observers  shall  answer.  Here  is  a  letter,  which  he 
wrote  from  his  chamber  after  he  had  regained  strength  to  write. 
It  was  to  his  friend  Mcllvaine. 

"New  York,  Feb.  22d,  1825. 

"  My  dear  Brother — I  thank  you  for  your  kind  favor  of  the 
15th.  In  the  eighth  week  of  confinement  to  my  chamber,  it  is 
refreshing  to  my  spirits  to  hear  from  my  Christian  friends ;  and 
among  them  I  can  name  no  one  whose  letters  are  more  accept- 
able than  yours. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  3d  ult.  I  was  suddenly  attacked  in 
the  street  with  the  gout  in  my  chest,  and  soon  became  §o  ill  as 
to  be  obliged  to  take  shelter  in  the  house  of  a  friend  until  I  could 
be  conveyed  home  in  a  carriage.  The  complaint  continued  to 
resist  every  effort  for  its  removal,  and  daily  to  increase  in  vio- 
lence until  the  Sunday  following  its  commencement,  although 
four  of  our  firstrate  physicians  were  in  attendance  upon  me,  and 
their  exertions  unremitted.  On  the  day  just  mentioned,  the 
impression  of  all  around  me  was,  that  a  few  moments  must  ter- 
minate my  existence.  Such  was  my  own  persuasion ;  and,  blessed 
be  God,  the  prospect  was  unaccompanied  by  the  least  alarm. 
There  was  given  me  not  only  a  spirit  of  calm  submission  and 
quiet  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  but  a  hope  full  of  immor-  ' 
tality.  0  how  precious  was  the  Saviour  to  my  rejoicing  soul  in 
that  never-to-be-forgotten  hour.  "With  what  an  unshaken  faith, 
as  a  helpless,  hell-deserving  sinner,  was  I  enabled  to  rest  my 
assurance  of  pardon  and  expectations  of  approaching  glory  on 
his  righteousness  and  blood.  Although  drenched  with  medicines, 
which,  under  other  circumstances,  would  not  only  have  taken 
away  my  reason,  but  been  destructive  of  life  itself,  yet  my  un« 
derstanding  was  unimpaired,  and  my  speech  articulate  and  clear ; 
so  that  I  was  permitted  to  bear  testimony  before  my  surrounding, 
friends  to  the  unspeakable  consolations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  the 


S44  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

unfailing  faithfulness  of  God,  and  to  the  abundant  love  of  the 
Redeemer,  of  all  which  I  had  the  joyful  experience. 

"  After  an  awful  season  of  bodily  suffering,  during  the  whole 
of  which  faith  in  a  crucified  Saviour  was  triumphant,  my  pains 
were,  for  a  short  time,  alleviated ;  but  it  proved  to  be  merely  a 
transfer  of  the  disease  from  the  chest  to  the  bowels,  which  by  no 
means  lessened  the  prospect  of  dissolution ;  and  when  it  again 
returned  to  its  original  seat,  every  hope  seemed  to  vanish  from 
the  minds  of  my  mourning  relatives  and  friends.*  But  God  was 
pleased  to  answer  the  prayers  of  his  believing  people,  and  to 
spare  me,  perhaps  for  some  further  usefulness  in  the  Church.  A 
long  life  of  the  utmost  devotion  to  his  service,  if  allowed  me,  will 
very  inadequately  repay  the  manifestations  of  his  loving  kind- 
ness, with  which,  during  this  providential  visitation,  I  have  been 
favored. 

"  I  am  now  quite  well  as  it  regards  my  general  health  ;  but 
have  had  several  slight  attacks  of  gout  in  my  feet  during  my 
convalescence,  which,  added  to  the  excoriations  occasioned  by 
blisters  and  mustard  applications,  disable  me  from  walking  more 
than  a  turn  or  two  at  a  time  across  my  chamber.  I  endeavor  to 
be  patient  under  this  long  suspension  of  the  delightful  duties  of 
the  miinistry ;  but  it  is  somewhat  of  a  trial. 

"I  was  rejoiced  to  hear  of  your  appointment,"  (to  a  chap- 
laincy and  professorship  at  West  Point,)  "partly  from  the  strong 
persuasion  which  I  have  felt  of  your  present  residence  being 
entirely  unfavorable  to  your  health,  and  partly  from  the  selfish 
consideration  of  having  one  whom  I  so  much  love  so  nea>  me. 
I  pray  God  to  overrule  this  change  for  good  to  your  constitution, 
and  for  your  spiritual  advancement  and  usefulness  in  the  Church. 
When  you  come  to  New  York  I  hope  you  will  calculate  on  mak- 

*  This  shifting  of  the  disease  from  place  to  place,  seemed  to  show  that  the 
enemy  had  been  driven  from  his  first  stronghold ;  and  though  he  again  returned 
to  it,  was  yet,  in  fact,  conquered.  It  was  evidently  the  crisis  of  the  attack. 
Probably,  the  movements  here  noted  all  took  place  on  the  same  eventful  Sab- 
bath, inasmuch  as  the  ''intervals  of  relief'^  on  that  day,  are  described,  by  his 
physician  and  himself,  as  "so  short,^'  or  continuing  only  ''for  a  short  time ;''^ 
and  as  "the  prayers  of  God's  believing  people,"  to  which,  mediately,  his 
"sudden"  deliverance  is  ascribed,  were  then  most  unitedly  and  imploringly 
ascending  to  a  throne  of  mercy.  " '•'  '  ""^  '■'  "'' 


HIS  MINISTRY.  245 

ing  some  stay,  and  give  my  people  dnd  myself  the  gratification 
of  at  least  a  Sunday's  service.  You  will,  of  course,  immediately 
on  your  arrival,  come  to  my  house.  Kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Mcll- 
vaine,  and  to  all  our  brethren. 

"Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR."     ' 
"  The  Rev.  Charles  P.  McIlvaine,  ) 
Georgetown,  D.  C."  ) 

Here  is  another  document,  from  his  family  physician  Dr. 
Stearns,  who  had  attended  him  through  all  his  sufferings  from 
the  gout,  in  its  repeated  attacks,  from  the  year  1821. 

"  These  attacks,"  says  Dr.  Stearns,  "  however  painful,  never 
disturbed  that  placid  equanimity  which  so  remarkably  character- 
ized his  whole  deportment  in  every  condition  of  life.  Always 
cheerful,  always  communicative  while  strength  remained,  he 
improved  every  opportunity  for  producing  reciprocal  feelings  in 
others.  In  1825,  the  gout,  for  the  first  time,  was  translated  from 
his  feet  to  his  chest.  This  happened  while  he  was  walking  in  the 
street.  He  was  immediately  taken  into  an  adjoining  house,  and 
thence  conveyed  home.  A  few  minutes  after  his  arrival,  I  found 
him  laboring  under  a  great  oppression  in  his  chest,  a  great  diffi- 
culty of  breathing,  and  intense  agony.  His  symptoms  were  of 
the  most  dangerous  character  ;  and  the  paroxysms  continued  to 
increase  until  the  following  Sunday,  when  the  disease  assumed 
its  most  critical  form.  So  violent  were  the  paroxysms,  and  so 
short  the  intervals^  that,  upon  every  succeeding  attack,  it  seemed 
impossible  for  him  to  survive.  Conscious  that  every  breath 
might  be  his  last,  he  improved  every  interval  of  relief  m  express- 
ing his  resignation  and  his  reliance  upon  divine  grace.  Never 
did  I  hear  such  impressive  words  from  a  dying  man.  The  so- 
lemnity of  the  scene,  the  anguish  of  his  countenance,  now  and 
then  yielding  to  smiles,  an  index  to  the  peace  within,  like  the 
occasional  brilliancy  of  the  sun  shining  through  a  dark  cloud, 
his  grBat  efforts  to  speak,  and  his  deep-toned  utterances,  made 
impressions  never  to  be  effaced,  melted  every  heart,  suffused 
every  eye,  and  palsied  every  tongue.  The  solemn  silence  was 
never  broken,  save  when  he  spoke.  Often  and  impressively  did 
he  bear  witness  to  the  great  truths  which  he  had  preached,  and 


^^  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

often  and  fervently  did  he  repeat  his  love  for  his  congregation; 
Addressing  me,  he  said,  '  Tell  them  how  I  love  them ;  and  that, 
if  God  spare  my  life,  I  vv^ill  improve  it  in  doing  more  good  than 
I  have  done.  Tell  them,  also,  to  call  a  successor  who  will  preach 
the  same  evangelical  doctrines  which  I  have  preached,  and  not  a 
formalist.'  And  then  he  exclaimed,  '  0  my  precious  Jesus. 
How  I  love  my  God.  How  I  love  the  Son  of  his  love.  How  I 
love  the  Holy  Comforter.' 

"At  another  interval,  addressing  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lyell,  he  gave 
him  the  following  message  for  Bishop  Hobart,  who  was  then  in 
Europe.  '  Tell  the  bishop  I  have  always  loved  him  from  our  ear- 
liest acquaintance ;  that,  although  I  have  been  obliged  to  differ 
in  opinion  with  him  on  some  points,  particularly  in  reference  to 
Eible  societies,  yet  I  have  always  loved  and  respected  him.  I 
did  think  he  had  done  wrong  in  introducing  my  name  into  the 
controversy  with  Mr.  Jay ;  but  I  freely  forgive  him.  Tell  him, 
also,  that  I  have  never  been  the  author  of  any  publication  against 
him.  Although  I  have  been  often  urged  by  some  of  my  friends 
to  do  so,  yet  1  have  never,  in  opposition  to  him,  put  pen  to  paper.' 

"  Such  was  our  beloved  rector,  and  such  the  evidence  which 
he  exhibited  of  the  true  Christian  character,  during  that  danger- 
ous illness  when  he  and  all  around  him  supposed  that  he  was  on 
the  verge  of  death. 

"JOHN  STEARNS." 

Here,  finally,  is  another,  though  a  briefer  note,  from  one 
who  bore  to  him  a  still  nearer  relation,  and  who  was  his  medical 
attendant  for  several  of  the  last  years  of  his  life.  The  note  is 
from  the  "  Recollections"  of  his  son.  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Milnor. 

"  How  often  have  I  seen  his  Christian  faith  and  hope  tested, 
when  suffering  excruciating  torture,  which,  apparently,  death 
only  could  relieve !  That  faith  never  wavered,  that  hope  never 
sunk  ;  but  steadily  the  Christian  soldier  bore  himself  through  the 
conflict.  The  infidel  may  smile  at  the  assertion,  but  it  is  cer- 
tainly evident,  that  the  efficacy  of  prayer  was  strikingly  mani- 
fested, when,  in  his  most  dreadful  attack — his  case  surrendered 
as  hopeless  by  the  ablest  physicians — ^the  united  prayers,  not  only 
of  his  own  church,  but  of  Christians  of  other  denominations, 
went  up  to  the  mercy-seat,  and  the  hand  of  the  destroyer  was 


HIS  MINISTRY.  247 

suddenly  stayed.  I  remember,  that  on  the  Sunday  when  his 
death  was  momentarily  expected,  it  was  proposed  to  stop  the 
ringing  of  his  church-bell,"  (the  parsonage  being  closely  along- 
side of  St.  George's  tower;)  "  'No,  no,'  he  murmured;  'let  it 
ring  on :  to  me  there  is  no  sweeter  sound  on  earth.  I  shall  soon 
listen  to  the  harmonies  of  heaven.'  "  [Not  so  soon,  dear  saint : 
even  then  prayer  was  entering  into  the  ear  of  the  Lord  of  Sab- 
aothj  and  he  was  yet  to  live.]  "  Like  good  old  Hezekiah,"  con- 
tinues the  "Recollections,"  "he  was  spared  for  longer  years. 
His  measure  of  usefulness  was  not  yet  full." 

It  was,  while  yet  in  his  chamber,  though  able  to  attend  to 
various  affairs,  that  he  received  a  visit  from  some  of  those  who 
were  most  active  in  the  steps  which  its  friends  were  then  taking 
towards  the  formation  of  the  American  Tract  Society.  As  this 
truly  great  institution  is  founded  on  the  principle  of  publishing 
those  religious  works  only,  in  the  circulation  of  which  all  evan- 
gelical Christians  may  unite,  the  object  of  this  visit  was  to  enlist 
Dr.  Milnor  in  its  organization  and  support,  as  a  suitable  repre- 
sentative of  the  Episcopal  church.  Weak  as  he  still  was,  he 
entered  with  zeal  into  the  proposed  measure,  and  became,  from 
the  first,  one  of  the  founders,  and  to  the  end  of  his  life,  one  of  the 
most  active  officers  of  the  Society. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  Bible  cause,  so  in  this,  the  history  of  his 
connection  with  it  belongs  to  a  future  page  of  this  Memoir.  For 
the  present,  therefore,  the  following  account  of  the  visit  just  men- 
tioned, from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  visitors,  with  a  few  other  no- 
tices connected  with  the  same  period,  will  be  sufficient. 

"When  I  came  to  this  city,"  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock,  Cor- 
responding Secretary  of  the  Society,  "  as  a  medium  of  communi- 
cation between  the  Tract  Societies  then  existing  in  New  York 
and  Boston,  Dr.  Milnor  lay  apparently  at  death's  door ;  and  the 
hope  of  his  recovery  seemed  to  rest  much  in  the  unceasing  prayer, 
offered  by  Christians  of  different  name,  that  he  might  yet  be 
spared  to  the  Church  of  God.  When  he  had  so  far  recovered  that 
he  could  be  seen  in  his  chamber,  we  had  drafted  a  Constitution 
of  the  proposed  Society ;  and  I  called  on  him,  I  think  with  Mr. 
Arthur  Tappan,  to  lay  the  subject  before  him.  From  the  public 
reports  of  his  relations  to  institutions  already  existing,  I  had  im- 


248  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

agined  that  Ke  was  a  very  grave  and  aged  father  in  the  Church, 
whose  aspect  and  manners  might  indicate  him  as  belonging  rather 
to  the  past  than  to  the  present  age.  Judge  of  my  surprise,  when, 
as  health  was  rapidly  returning,  and  the  delicate  flush  on  his 
cheek  was  perhaps  increased  by  his  late  confinement,  I  beheld  all 
the  bloom  of  youth,  and  one  of  the  most  bland,  buoyant,  and 
attractive  countenances,  I  had  ever  seen ;  with  manners  corre- 
spondent, and  breathing  out  a  heart  full  of  benevolence.  He 
entered  at  once  into  the  design ;  took  the  draft  of  the  proposed 
Constitution ;  examined  carefully  every  item ;  suggested  a  few 
verbal  improvements,  which  yet  remain  in  it ;  and,  while  he 
intimated  a  fear  that  Christians  might  not  be  ready  to  engage  in 
such  a  union,  expressed  his  strong  and  decided  wish  that,  seek- 
ing direction  from  God,  the  enterprise  might  go  forward,  and  his 
own  willingness  to  do  whatever  he  could  to  promote  so  excellent 
a  design." 

Soon  after  this  visit,  Dr.  Milnor  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
St.  George's  after  his  long  confinement.  The  interest  of  the 
occasion  may  possibly  be  conceived,  though  not  easily  described. 
His  affectionate  congregation  received  him  as  a  messenger  from 
heaven,  come  back  to  speak  to  them  of  things  which  he  had  all  but 
.  seen  and  heard ;  while  he,  on  his  own  part,  looked  like  one  new- 
born into  the  world.  His  face  shone  with  a  heavenly  radiance  ; 
so  freshly  beautiful  was  the  glow  of  new  health,  and  so  joyous, 
so  divinely  peaceful  the  expression  which  the  inner  man  sent  out, 
to  talk  silently  through  his  transparent  countenance  with  his 
devoutly  listening  flock.  And  then,  from  the  fulness  of  the  heart 
the  mouth  spake ;  and  his  words  had,  plainly,  the  same  secret 
with  his  looks.  Twenty-two  years  ago  that  scene  was  present, 
and  that  sermon  preached.  During  that  time  words  have  passed 
away ;  but  the  messenger  from  the  borders  of  the  grave  ;  the  face 
which  looked  as  if  it  had  just  come,  not  from  Sinai,  but  from 
Zion ;  the  feelings,  which  rose  fresh  and  pure  from  their  spring, 
as  though  they  flowed,  not  through  a  defiling  world,  but  from  a 
heaven  close  by — these  are  still  like  things  of  yesterday,  not  only 
to  the  writer,  but  also  to  multitudes  besides. 

But  to  return  to  the  Tract  Society.  A  feeling  in  favor  of 
organizing  a  national  institution  at  New  York,  awoke  so  early  as 


HIS  MINISTRY.  249 

the  preceding  August,  in  the  summer  of  1824,  At  that  time, 
important  and  flourishing,  but  separate  Tract  Societies  existed 
both  at  Boston  and  at  New  York ;  and  the  question  at  first  was, 
which  of  the  two  should  become  auxiliary  to  the  other.  This 
question,  however,  was  ultimately  decided  by  a  determination  to 
organize  a  national  institution  at  New  York,  independent  of  both ; 
and  that  to  it  both  should  be  invited  to  become  auxiliary.  Ne- 
gotiation was  somewhere  near  this  point,  when  Mr,  Hallock  and 
his  friend  made  their  visit  to  Dr.  Milnor's  chamber.  Thencefor- 
ward, progress  in  the  formation  of  a  national  Tract  Society  was 
rapid.  On  the  11th  of  March,  two  days  before  the  sermon  just 
mentioned,  a  public  meeting  of  the  friends  of  the  cause  from  New 
York  and  its  vicinity,  preliminary  to  the  organization  of  such  a 
Society,  was  held  at  the  City  Hotel ;  at  which  a  temporary  Ex- 
ecutive Committee,  and  officers  for  the  receipt  and  management 
of  funds,  were  appointed ;  and  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, soon  after  raised  to  about  twenty-five  thousand,  towards  the 
building  of  a  Tract  house,  were  subscribed.  On  the  15th  of 
March,  two  days  after  that  sermon,  the  first  meeting  of  the  tem- 
porary Executive  Committee  was  held  at  Df,  Milnor's  study, 
apparently  in  accommodation  to  the  still  tender  state  of  his  health, 
when  he  was  requested  to  act  as  their  chairman. 

On  the  10th  of  the  following  May,  delegates  from  various 
Tract  Societies  throughout  the  United  States  met  in  New  York, 
at  the  call  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary.  Of  this  meeting, 
also.  Dr.  Milnor  was  appointed  chairman,  and  the  Constitution 
of  the  proposed  Society  was  calmly  considered  and  matured.  The 
next  day.  May  11,  1825,  at  a  large  public  meeting  in  the  City 
Hotel,  the  Society  was  solemnly  organized,  by  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution,  and  the  election  of  officers;  and  immediately 
afterwards  the  corner-stone  of  the  Society's  house  was  laid.  Dr. 
Milnor  was  placed  on  the  Executive  Committee ;  was  made  chair- 
man of  that  and  also  of  the  Publishing  Committee,-  and  held  both 
places  till  the  day  of  his  death :  places,  too,  of  the  highest  im- 
portance, and  filled  with  large  and  most  fully  accredited  ability. 

Very  soon  after  this,  the  first  anniversary  meeting  of  the 
Society,  a  delegation  from  the  national  institution  in  New  York 
was  appointed,  and  proceeded  to  Boston,  to  meet  a  delegation 


■25(>'  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

from  that  city,  for  the  purpose  of  finally  settling  the  deeply  in- 
teresting question,  whether  the  American  Tract  Society,  located 
in  Boston,  would  identify  itself  with  the  national  society  in  New 
York,  which  had  taken  the  same  name.  Of  this  delegation  also, 
Dr.  Milnor  was  made  chairman.  The  joint  action  of  the  two 
delegations  was  completed  before  the  30th  of  May ;  and  Dr.  Mil- 
nor's  influence  on  the  happy  result  which  followed,  was  felt  and 
acknowledged.  Twenty  years  after  this,  Dr.  "Woods,  of  Andover 
Theological  Seminary,  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  Society, 
writing  to  apologize  for  his  absence  from  the  anniversary  meeting 
in  1845,  thus  alludes  to  the  doings  of  this  delegation  in  1825: 

"I  take  this  occasion  to  express  my  increasing  conviction  of 
the  usefulness  of  the  Society,  and  my  entire  confidence  in  the 
wisdom,  integrity,  and  untiring  diligence  of  those  who  manage  its 
concerns.  It  is  one  of  my  comforts,  that  I  had  a  part  in  the  first 
planning  and  early  labors  of  the  Tract  Society.  I  remember 
with  unutterable  satisfaction  the  time  when  we  met,  in  Boston, 
a  committee  from  New  York  to  deliberate  on  the  best  way  of 
promoting  the  Tract  cause,  and  when  we  knelt  together  in  the 
parlor  to  seek  wisdom  from  above,  and  our  dearly  beloved  Dr. 
Milnor  led  us  in  prayer.  The  Lord  be  praised  that  that  excellent 
man  was  continued  to  us  so  long ;  and  that,  by  his  labors  and 
prayers,  and  holy  example,  he  did  so  much  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  the  American  Tract  Society."  ,m 


SECTION  III. 

We  approach  now  that  part  of  Dr.  Milnor's  ministerial  life 
which  will  be  somewhat  more  copiously  illustrated  by  his  own 
letters.  The  first  which  occur  shed  a  beautiful  light  on  that 
trait  in  his  character  which  presents  him  as  the  generous  and 
fatherly  patron  of  those  young  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  in 
their  studies  for  the  ministry,  whom  Providence  brought  within 
the  sphere  of  his  influence  and  kind  offices.  These  letters,  in- 
deed, were  addressed  to  a  single  student ;  but  his  was  a  case  by 
;io  means  solitary.     Others,  as  well  as  the  individual  alluded  to, 


HIS   MINISTRY.  251 

have  had  occasion  to  take  grateful  knowledge  of  the  lovely  trait 
about  to  be  exhibited.  Before  proceeding  to  these  letters,  it  will 
be  proper  to  add,  that  the  person  addressed  was,  at  the  opening 
of  the  series,  a  student  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary ; 
but  entered  soon  after  into  orders,  and  for  many  years  had  the 
privilege  of  regarding  Dr.  Milnor  as  one  of  the  kindest  of  friends, 
and  one  of  the  wisest  of  counsellors. 

To   a  Theological   Student. 

"  St.  George's,  June  20,  1825. 

"  My  dear  Brother — The  object  of  the  present  brief  commu- 
nication is  to  assure  you  of  the  lively  interest  and  sincere  sym- 
pathy which  have  been  awakened  in  my  breast  towards  you  by 
our  interview  on  Saturday  evening,  and  to  proffer  you,  along 
with  my  earnest  prayers  in  your  behalf  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
any  personal  service  that  may  be  helpful  to  you  in  your  future 
course. 

"  With  all  the  difficulties  that  may  arise  out  of  your  happy 
change  of  views  on  the  most  interesting  of  all  concerns,  I  am 
persuaded  you  will  find  that  you  have  chosen  the  path  of  true 
wisdom ;  and  that  God,  who  has  called  you  by  his  grace  from 
darkness  to  light,  will  fulfil,  in  your  rejoicing  experience,  all  the 
encouraging  promises  of  his  word  to  his  faithful  servants.  How 
thankful  will  you  have  reason  to  be,  if,  besides  filling  your  own 
heart  with  a  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed,  he  should  honor  you, 
even  before  the  commencement  of  your  public  ministry,  by  mak- 
ing you  an  instrument  of  good  to  some  of  your  present  associates. 
How  delightful  a  hope  to  indulge,  that  holy  example,  and  a  word 
fitly  dropped,  and  fervent  prayer — ^means  which  I  trust  a  gra- 
cious God  will  enable  you  to  use — may,  with  his  blessing,  be 
rendered  effectual  in  bringing  to  right  views  of  divine  truth  even 
one  of  your  fellow-students.  How  animating  the  thought,  that 
the  consequence  pf  so  happy  an  occurrence  may  be  the  salvation 
of  multitudes,  whom,  instead  of  helping  onward,  by  his  own 
errors  in  doctrine,  to  their  everlasting  ruin,  he  may,  by  his  work 
of  faith  and  labor  of  love  in  the  ministry  of  reconciliation,  con- 
duct to  eternal  blessedness  in  heaven. 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  the  delicacy  of  your  situation,  and  how 


252  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

much  religious  prudence  and  discretion  will  be  requisite  in  union 
with  the  desire  which,  as  a  disciple  of  Christ,  I  know  you  must 
feel  for  his  honor  and  the  truths  of  his  glorious  Grospel.  My 
counsel  is,  that  you  should  ever  act  in  the  spirit  of  meekness ; 
that,  by  your  deportment,  you  convince  your  young  friends  that 
you  are  influenced  by  feelings  of  love  only  in  connection  with 
deep  convictions  of  truth ;  that  you  avoid  every  thing  which  might 
bear  the  aspect  of  dictation,  or  of  assumed  superiority ;  and  above 
all,  that  you  give  them  a  large  share  of  your  intercessory  suppli- 
cations in  the  closet,  and  in  those  social  prayers  which  I  rejoice 
to  hear  a  few  of  you  daily  have  in  your  chambers. 

"  Be  of  good  courage,  my  dear  friend ;  I  pray  God  that  your 
faith  fail  not ;  and  if  it  be  the  product  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  I 
know  it  will  not.  His  providential  dealings  with  you  will  be  as 
propitious  to  your  success  in  the  work  which  he  has  for  you  to 
do,  as  his  grace  has  been  in  calling  you  to  enter  upon  it.  Make 
the  promises  of  his  word  your  constant  dependence,  and  believing 
prayer  will  not  fail  to  supply  you  with  continual  evidences  of  the 
truth  and  faithfulness  of  God. 

"In  our  conversation,  you  intimated,  I  think,  a  preference,  of 
which  I  approve,  for  the  completion  of  your  theological  course,  by 
remaining  another  year  in  the  seminary ;  but  intimated  that  cir- 
cumstances, which  you  did  not  explain,  might  render  it  imprac- 
ticable for  you  to  do  so.  I  believe  I  am  not  a  stranger  to  those 
circumstances ;  and  trust  that  I  shall  not  offend  you  by  the  inti- 
mation, that,  if  they  be  such  as  I  suppose,  they  will  be  remedied 
in  a  way  that  shall  not  be  offensive  to  your  feelings.  To  be  quite 
plain  on  the  subject,  whatever  reasonable  addition  to  your  pres- 
ent pecuniary  resources  may  be  necessary  to  your  continuance  in 
the  seminary,  will  be  made  by  the  agency  of 

"  Your  faithful  and  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR."     , 

The  generous  offer,  with  which  this  letter  closes,  it  did  not 
become  necessary  to  accept.  The  student  addressed  received  an 
unexpected  appointment  to  a  tutorship  in  college,  and  therefore 
did  not  return  for  his  closing  term  of  study  in  the  seminary. 
The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  him  about  the  time  of  his 
entrance  on  his  new  duties. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  253: 

"Nkw  York,  Sept.  17,  1825. 

"  Dear  Sir — ^I  have  been  gratified  by  the  receipt  of  your  favor 
of  the  12th  inst.,  to  which  it  would  have  been  convenient,  on 
some  accounts,  to  have  delayed  a  little  my  answer.  But  you 
mention  a  circumstance,  in  which  I  presume  it  may  be  in  my 
power  to  render  you  a  small  service  ;  and  that  is  my  motive  for 
writing  so  soon.  The  books  which  have  a  relation  to  the  depart- 
ment assigned  you  in  the  college,  you  must,  as  soon  as  possible, 
be  supplied  with  ;  and  you  must  allow  me  to  assist  you  in  their 
purchase,  and  to  make  the  necessary  advances  in  your  behalf. 
Let  me,  therefore,  be  forthwith  furnished  with  a  list,  and  every 
exertion  shall  be  made  to  obtain  the  best  editions  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible  ;  and  if  besides  this  there  be  any  other  particu- 
lar, in  which  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  assist  you,  I  pray  you 
not  to  be  reserved  in  your  communications,  but  frankly  tell  me 
how  I  can  oblige  one  to  whom  I  rejoice  in  bearing  the  relation  of 
a  brother. 

"  Oh,  how  sweet  and  endearing  that  tie  which  unites  fellow- 
Christians  in  the  bonds  of  the  Gospel !  Among  the  other  eviden- 
ces of  our  being  real  disciples  of  Christ,  how  delightful  that  of  our 
loving  one  another.  It  is  one  of  the  most  gratifying  circumstances 
of  my  earthly  pilgrimage,  to  live  in  affection  for  my  spiritual 
kindred  in  Christ,  and  to  believe  that  I  also  live  in  their  love  for 
me  ;  and  that  we  mutually  bear  each  other  in  our  thoughts,  when 
approaching  the  throne  of  grace  in  the  grateful  duty  of  interces- 
sory supplication. 

"  AVTiile  I  heartily  congratulate  you,  my  beloved  brother,  on 
your  accession  to  a  situation,  which,  while  you  occupy  it,  may, 
with  God's  blessing,  enable  you  to  prepare  for  a  different  and  more 
extensive  field  of  usefulness,  I  sympathize  with  you  in  your  anti- 
cipation of  some  difficulties  in  the  way  of  spiritual  improvement, 
with  which  it  will  certainly  be  attended.  It  is  good,  however,  to 
foresee  evil,  because  it  will  excite  to  watchfulness,  and  set  in- 
vention to  work  in  the  contrivance  of  the  best  means  for  averting 
the  effects  of  exposure  to  that  most  awful  of  calamities  to  a  re- 
newed Christian,  spiritual  declension.  Set  out,  my  friend,  with 
the  resolute  determination,  that,  by  the  help  of  divine  grace,  you 
will  daily  redeem  sufficient  time  from  your  secular  studies  and^ 


25^  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

employments  to  attend  to  '  the  one  thing  needful ;'  and  often  re- 
volve in  your  mind  the  solemn  inquiry  suggested  by  Him  who 
died  for  our  redemption,  '  What  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall 
gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?'  There  is  no  such 
help  to  our  growth  in  grace  as  frequent  retirement  to  the  closet, 
there  to  investigate,  with  no  eye  upon  us  but  that  of  the  Omnis- 
cient, our  true  character  and  condition  ;  to  look  back  impartially 
on  our  outward  walk  ;  to  dive  into  the  secret  springs  and  motives 
of  our  actions  ;  and,  with  fervency,  to  pray  to  the  Author  of  all 
our  mercies  for  those  which  we  especially  need.  It  is  good,  too, 
in  our  seasons  of  devotional  retirement,  to  open  our  Bible,  not 
for  criticism — let  that  employ  some  other  moments  than  those  of 
secret  communion  with  God — but  to  warm  our  hearts,  and 
elevate  our  desires,  and  strengthen  our  resolution,  and  increase 
the  ardor  of  our  love. 

"  In  reference  to  your  time  of  life,  and  your  recent  experience 
of  the  goodness  of  Grod,  allow  me  to  suggest  to  you  a  thing,  which 
I  have  made  multiplied  duties  and  cares  an  apology  in  my  own 
case  for  too  much  neglecting — ^the  keeping  of  a  religious  diary. 
It  will  be  a  wholesome  as  well  as  pleasing  exercise  ;  and  it  will 
be  hereafter  cheering  and  encouraging  to  look  back  upon  all  the 
way  in  which  God  has  led  you  ;  to  see  the  dangers  from  which  he 
has  delivered  you ;  and  to  be  able,  from  past  evidences  of  divine 
benignity  and  power,  to  maintain  the  persuasion,  that  you  will 
be  '  kept  by  his  power  through  faith  unto  salvation.' 

"  But  pleasing  as  it  is  to  me  thus  to  converse  with  one,  in 
whose  present  happiness  and  future  usefulness  I  think  I  feel  a 
most  affectionate  interest,  I  am  so  near  the  limits  of  my  paper, 
that  I  must  defer  to  future  occasions  much  of  what  my  feelings 
of  attachment  would  lead  me  to  add. 

"  On  your  part,  my  dear  friend,  you  need  not  hesitate  to  com- 
municate with  the  greatest  freedom  to  him  who  rejoices  to  have 
a  place  in  your  affections,  and  to  subscribe  himself,  - 

"  Your  faithful  brother  in  the  Lord, 

"JAMES  MILNOK" 

From  the  following  reply  which  he  received,  it  appears  that 
his  generous  offer  was,  this  time,  gratefully  accepted. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  255 

" —  College,  Sept.  24,  1825. 


"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — This  speedy  answer  to  yours  of  the 
17th  inst.  is  owing  to  the  unexpected  offer  contained  in  that 
communication.  An  expression  of  the  feelings  excited  by  your 
Christian  kindness  and  brotherly  affection  on  this  and  on  a  for- 
mer occasion,  shall  be  reserved  to  another  part  of  this  letter.  For 
the  pf esent,  I  will  show  how  I  esteem  your  generosity  by  attend- 
ing at  once  to  what  you  have  enjoined  upon  me."  Here  follow  a 
plan  for  collecting  books,  and  a  list  of  books  to  be  purchased ; 
after  which  the  letter  continues  :  .j 

"  I  will  now  enter  on  a  more  pleasing  subject  of  interest.  I 
can  hardly  hope,  however,  to  give  you  a  just  idea  of  the  feelings 
which  arose  in  my  mind,  on  reading  the  kind  assurances  and  the 
Christian  counsel  which  your  letter  contained.  0  how  different 
now  are  the  emotions  which  start  up  at  the  name  of  Christian 
brother,  from  those  which  one  year  since  awoke  at  the  mention 
of  that  sacred  appellation !  To  be  a  fellow-subject  with  others 
of  God's  renewing  grace,  and  a  fellow-heir  with  others  of  the 
hope  of  glory  !  There  are  a  breadth,  and  lengtii,  and  depth,  and 
height,  in  the  thought,  which  none  but  the  renewed  mind  can 
measure.  For  myself,  dear  Christian  brother,  I  am  not  always 
able  to  realize  the  idea.  At  seasons,  hoM'"ever,  when  I  obtain 
refreshing  views  of  divine  things,  it  comes  over  my  mind  with  a 
joy  so  big,  that  I  almost  hesitate  to  admit  it.  The  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances which  modify  the  relation  of  Christian  brotherhood 
between  yourself  and  one  so  unworthy  as  I  am,  might  furnish 
scope  for  many  remarks ;  but  for  the  present  I  forbear,  with  the 
assurance  that  I  deem  my  acquaintance  with  you  one  of  the 
providences  with  which  Grod  has  been  pleased  to  mark  my  hum- 
ble life.  The  gift  of  friends,  especially  of  Christian  friends,  is 
from  the  hand  of  God.  While,  therefore,  in  the  present  instance 
I  am  enjoying  that  gift,  may  the  gracious  Giver  send  me  special 
grace  for  its  improvement. 

^' When  I  wrote  last,  I  spoke  of  the  influence  of  college  life 
on  a  life  of  piety,  from  speculation.  I  can  now  speak  of  it  from 
a  short  experience.  In  consequence  of  the  unusual  number  of 
classes  in  the  college,  and  of  the  yet  small  number  of  instructors, 
I  have,  for  the  last  week,  had  an  exceedingly  laborious  task. 


256  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Five  recitations  each  day,  with  the  study  necessary,  in  me,  to 
prepare  for  them,  have  given  occupation  to  all  my  time,  except 
such  as  I  have  been  able  to  save  for  devotional  and  necessary 
duties.  But  amid  all  this  crowd  of  cares,  I  have  been  much 
blessed  in  my  religious  state.  God  has  been  pleased  to  make  his 
own  word  and  promise,  and  my  weak  attempts  at  prayer,  at  all 
times  comforting,  and  occasionally  sweet  and  refreshing.  How 
full  and  satisfying  the  assurance  which  I  have  at  such  seasons 
felt ;  how  elevating  and  blessed  the  hope  which  I  have  then  en- 
joyed !  Pray  for  me,  dear  Christian  friend,  that  the  evils  of  a 
college  life  may  be  always  thus  averted  by  the  good  grace  of 
God. 

"  Your  suggestion  as  to  a  religious  diary,  is  one  on  which  I 
have  regularly  practised  ever  since  reading  the  memoirs  of  Henry 
Martyn  last  winter ;  a  little  book  which  I  believe  was  God's  in- 
strument of  a  great  blessing  to  my  soul.  I  have  already  found 
the  practice  a  great  profit,  as  well  as  a  great  pleasure,  and  I 
shall  use  your  suggestion  as  an  encouragement  to  persevere  in 
what  I  have  thus  far  so  beneficially  prosecuted. 
'  •  "  Without  room  to  write  more,  I  remain, 

"  Your  obliged  and  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 


The  next  letter  from  Dr.  Milnor  being  almost  wholly  confined 
to  an  account  of  the  books  which  he  had  purchased  and  forwarded 
to  his  friend,  a  brief  extract  only  will  be  given,  as  referring  for- 
ward to  others  in  the  series. 

"New  York,  Oct.  6,  1825. — Churchmen  are  all  alive  here 
in  reference  to  two  very  interesting  events ;  the  expected  arrival 
of  the  bishop,"  from  Europe,  "and  the  doings  of  your  trustees 
yesterday.  A  few  days  will  elicit  things  of  most  portentous 
bearing  on  the  interests  of  our  Zion." 

Accordingly,  he  says,  writing  soon  after,  under  date  of 

"New  York,  October  15,  1825. 

"  My  dear  Friend — Before  this  reaches  you,  you  will  probably 

have  heard  of  the  return  of  Bishop  Hobart.    The  clergy  attended 

him  yesterday  art  St.  John's,  to  return  thanks  for  the  goodness  of 

Almighty  God  in  restoring  him  to  his  diocese  and  family.     I 


HIS  MINISTRY.  25V 

never  saw  him  when  he  looked  better,  though  he  says  he  is  still 
subject  to  attacks  of  dyspepsy.  He  'made  a  very  feeling  address 
to  us  in  the  vestry-room ;  in  which  he  declared  that  he  came  home 
with  the  liveliest  feelings  of  affection  towards  all  his  brethren ; 
that  he  was  sensible  of  his  infirmities,  and  besought  for  them  the 
indulgence  of  his  friends;  that  he  would  at  all  times  be  ready 
to  receive  counsel  from  them;  and  that,  whatever  might  have 
been,  or  might  still  be,  his  errors,  he  trusted  thos'e  who  most 
differed  from  him  would  not  impute  to  him  other  than  pure  and 
disinterested  motives.  Nothing  could  be  more  conciliatory  or 
affectionate  than  his  demeanor  towards  myself;  nor  could  con- 
gratulations be  warmer  than  those  which  he  expressed  on  my 
merciful  preservation  last  winter.  I  am  to  dine  with  hini  oh 
Monday  next,  and  he  with  me  on  the  following  Thursday. 

"I  mention  these  things  as  a  source  of  gratification,  because 
indicative  of  an  enlargement  of  views  on  the  part  of  Bishop 
Hobart,  which  he  has  acquired  by  his  general  intercourse  dur- 
ing the  last  two  years,  and  which,  if  maintained,  will  greatly 
contribute  to  his  own  peace  of  mind  and  the  prosperity  of  the- 
Ohurch.  I  have  ever  entertained  a  warm  personal  friendship 
for  the  bishop,  with  whom  I  have  been  intimate  for  at  least  five 
and  thirty  years ;  but  I  have  ever  regretted  his  intolerant  views, 
and  determined)  at  all  hazards,  to  maintain  iriy  own  convictions 
upon  religioti  and  church  politics,  until  convinced  of  their  error. 
I  do  trust  in  God,  he  will  see  the  necessity  of  allowing  to  others 
a  liberty  which  he  so  largely  claims  for  himself;  and  then,  with 
a  very  considerable  diversity  of  opinion,  harmony  and  Christian 
love  may  be  maintained.  I  am  persuaded  that  firmness,  united 
with  moderation  and  meekness,  on  the  part  of  those  who  wish 
to  see  our  church  not  only  advancing  in  outward  prosperity,  but, 
growing  in  evangelical  purity  and  attachment  to  the  distinguish- 
ing doctrines  of  Christianity,  will,  in  the  end,  be  blessed  of  God; 
and  that,  when  our  opponents  shall  be  convinced  that  we  have 
no  personal  objects  in  view,  and  are  under  the  influence  neither 
of  fanaticism  nor  of  party  spirit,  they  will  feel  more  charitably 
disposed  towards  us,  and  approximate  more  nearly  that  course  of 
sentiment  and  of  action  which  the  providence  of  God  is  now  so 
manifestly  forwarding  within  the  limits  of  our  church. 

Mem.  Milnor.  1 7 


358  MEMOm  OF  BR.  MILNOR. 

"I  rejoice  to  hear  that  our  friend ^  talks  of  spending  the 

winter  at ,  and  still  more  at  the  motive  which  prompts  him 

to  the  measure.     The  Lord  make  your  influence  successful  in 

bringing  his  heart  into  closer  union  with  that  glorious  Saviour 

whose  minister  he  designs  to  be.     Grod  bless  you,  my  beloved 

brother.     Every  letter  you  write  me  gives  you  a  deeper  seat  in 

the  affections  of  your  faithful 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  next  letter  was  mainly  in  reply  to  one  in  which  the 
writer  had  stated  some  difficulties  on  the  subject  of  intercourse 
with  the  world ;  and  it  shows  how  thorough,  on  this  point,  had 
become  the  change  in  Dr.  Milnor's  views,  in  passing  from  his 
natural  to  his  religious  life. 

"New  York,  Nov.  29,  1825. 

"  My  DfiAR  Friend — I  thank  you  for  addressing  me  by  a  title 
to  which  I  hope  you  will  always  allow  me  to  maintain  a  claim. 
And  I  pray  God,  that  when  we  are  both  removed  from  our  terres- 
trial conflicts,  the  friendship  now  begun  may  be  continued  with 
more  purity  and  fervor  in  that  better  state  to  which,  I  trust,  we 
are  looking  forward  with  delight.  If  there  be  one  thought  which, 
more  than  others,  fills  my  mind  with  sweet  anticipations  in  hours 
of  retired  meditation,  it  is  that  of  the  renewal  of  those  cherished 
intimacies  which  a  common  love  of  our  dear  Redeemer  has  led 
me  to  form  with  kindred  minds  on  earth,  and  which,  I  verily 
believe,  will  be  cemented  and  made  eternal  in  the  paradise  of 
God.  Let  us  deport  ourselves  so  as  to  insure  that  blessedness, 
and  find  an  alleviation  of  all  the  difficulties  and  trials  of  life  in 
the  delightful  prospect  of  the  peaceful  enjoyments  of  the  heav- 
enly state. 

"  The  steady  contemplation  of  that  state  will,  I  think,  re- 
move every  embarrassment  in  regard  to  the  extent  in  which  we 
should  mingle  in  the  pleasures  of  this.  I  am  free  to  say  to  you, 
my  dear  brother,  that  I  feel  every  day  growing  apprehensions  of 
worldly  conformity,  and  that  I  find  my  peace  of  mind  requiring 
an  unequivocal  renunciation  of  amusements  such  as  you  have 
mentioned..  Since  I  consecrated  myself  to  God,  it  has  been  no 
cross  to  me  to  reject  them.  "When  I  acquired  a  taste  for  religious 
enjoyments,  I  lost,  in  a  good  degree,  my  relish  for  such  trifling. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  259 

But  the  censure  of  the  world  it  was,  for  a  time,  unpleasant  to 
encounter ;  until  I  found — :as  I  believe,  by  a  mild  but  firm  per- 
severance in  duty,  you  also  will  find — that  it  is  better,  if  need 
be,  to  incur  the  world's  displeasure,  than  that  of  God ;  and  that, 
in  truth,  he  is  pleased  so  to  regard  his  faithful  servants  as  to  con- 
strain even  that  world  secretly  to  admire  what  it  affects  to  dis- 
approve. I  never  yet  knew  a  minister,  whom  a  conduct  incon- 
sistent with  his  profession  did  not  bring  into  contempt,  not  merely 
with  the  pious,  but  even  with  the  ungodly  themselves ;  nor  one, 
whom  unaffected,  earnest  piety  has  ever  permanently  injured. 
Let  the  manner  of  rejecting  or  evading  the  calls  of  fashionable 
pleasure  be  discreet  and  temperate,  and  the  general  tenor  of  con- 
duct show  the  hallowed  motives  by  which  abstinence  from  the 
gayeties  of  life  is  induced ;  and  you  will  find,  as  I  have  done, 
that  you  will  be  left  to  pursue  your  course  with  no  more  of  cen- 
sure than,  as  a  good  Christian,  for  Christ  and  conscience'  sake,  you 
can,  by  the  help  of  your  divine  Master,  very  easily  bear.  Nor 
does  this  required  sacrifice  imply,  that  cheerfulness  is  in  itself 
sinful,  or  that  our  dispositions  are  to  become  sour  and  morose, 
or  that  intercourse  with  those  "Cvho  live  not  by  our  rule,  is  to  be 
entirely  withheld.  But  I  would  say,  that  it  should  not  be  more  fre- 
quent than  circumstances  render  necessary  ;  that,  when  allowed, 
it  should  not  be  long  continued  ,*^  that,  if  practicable,  it  should 
always  be  improved  to  some  religious  end ;  and  that,  on  no  ac- 
count, should  the  world  be  permitted  to  entrap  us  into  scenes 
where  we  can  receive-  no  benefit,  but  must  return  to  our  closets 
with  minds  unfitted  for  communion  with  God,  less  inclined  to 
all  our  spiritual  duties,  and  harassed  with  intimations  from  the 
inward  monitor  of  vows  forgotten,  character  lowered,  and  use- 
fulness impaired,  and  with  the  apprehension  not  only  of  having 
wounded  the  feelings  of  tlie  pious,  but  also  of  being  sneered  at 
and  despised  by  the  very  persons  who  have  delighted  to  find  us, 
with  all  our  professions,  so  much  like  themselves.  There  is  a  cler- 
gyman, not  many  days'  ride  from  your  present  residence,  whom  I 
have  heard  mentioned  by  the  very  persons  whose  worldly  pleasures 
he  habitually  shares,  in  terms  corroborative  of  what  I  have  said 
as  to  the  estimate  which  such  people  form  of  Christians,  espe- 
cially ministers,  who  thus  desecrate  their  characters  and  destroy 


260  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

their  usefulness.  I  know  -many  similar  instances.  But  I  never 
knew  a  real  man  of  God,  who  did  not  ultimately,  by  forbearance 
and  moderation  in  the  article  of  pleasurable  intercourse,  where 
he  united  with  them  suavity  and  kindness  of  feeling  and  de- 
meanor towards  all  men,  command  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
whose  opinions  were  worthy  of  regard.  A  bishop  of  our  church 
once  said  to  me  on  this  subject,  *  Let  a  minister  of  God  begin 
his  course  by  marking  out  for  himself  a  strict  line  of  conduct, 
and  then  take  care  to  keep  a  great  way  within  it.'  '  The  tongue 
of  the  wise  is  health :'  '  A  word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good 
it  is !'  But  I  am  fatiguing  you  with  remarks  which,  I  trust, 
your  own  feelings  have  anticipated,  and  at  present  will  say  no 
more  on  the  subject. 

"  On  the  proceedings  at  our  late  Convention,  I  wish  to  say  but 
little.  My  conscience  acquits  me  of  any  ill  design ;  and  as  I 
wish,  in  no  unnecessary  way,  to  incur  censure,  I  am  glad,  in  this 
matter,  to  have  been  involved  in  none,  6n  the  part  of  either  the 
bishop  or  his  friends.  By  the  latter,  if  I  desired  the  praise  of 
men,  I  was  abundantly  complimented.  The  former  remarked  to 
irie,  after  the  rising  of  the  Convention,  'You  behaved  towards 
me  personally,  in  that  instance,  as  you  have  always  done,  like 
a  gentleman  and  a  Christian.'  I  would  not  mention  this  but  to 
allay  any  fears  which  persons  of  our  acquaintance  might  ex- 
cite in  your  mind,  lest  some  new  offence  had  arisen  between  the 
.  bishop  and  myself.  He  is  more  cordial  than  I  ever  knew  him  ; 
and  as  I  have  not  a  tittle  of  animosity  against  him,  so  long  as  I 
am  allowed  to  pursue  the  ministerial  and  religious  course  which 
I  believe  duty  requires,  I  will  endeavor  not  to  make  his  cordiality 
less.  But  I  will  never  sacrifice  principle  for  the  sake  of  retain- 
ing any  man's  regards.  That  I  very  partially  concur  in  the 
church  politics  of  this  diocese,  I  am  obliged  to  avow.  But  as  I 
cannot  alter  a  course  of  which  I  am  obliged  to  disapprove,  I  am 
content  to  be  put  out  of  the  question  in  every  thing  but  what 
relates  to  my  immediate  duties.  With  these,  I  will  allow  no 
man,  except  in  the  way  of  counsel,  to  interfere.  While  I  walk 
according  to  the  law  of  God  and  the  written  rules  of  the  Church, 
and  continue  to  discharge  my  duties  in  the  fear  of  God,  I  feel  no 
inward  disquietude,  nor  any  apprehensions  of  what  man  can  do 


HIS  MINISTRY.  261 

unto  me.  And  all  this  I  hope  to  find  consistent  with  the  avoid- 
ance of  schism,  and  of  any  improper  disrespect  towards  those 
who  are  set  over  us  in  the  Lord. 

"0  how  I  mourn  over  the  spiritual  state  of  some  whom  your 

friend has  left  behind  in  the  seminary  ;  and  how;  gloomy 

are  the  anticipations  which  involuntarily  afflict  my  mind,  at  the 
prospect  of  a  diminished  number  of  those  who  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  in  sincerity,  in  an  institution  which  is  called  '  The  hope  of 
the  Church  !'  Our  friend  D.  has  left  '  The  Society  of  Inquiry,'* 
on  account  of  the  Princeton  business ;  that  society  having  deter-. 
mined  to  hold  no  intercourse  with  Presbyterians.  I  thank  God  ^ 
Iv '  have  not  so  learned  Christ.' 

"  I  have  many  more  things  to  say  to  you ;  but  though  you 
see  how  I  have  husbanded  my  paper,  yet  it  is  run  out.     I  have 
still  room,  however,  to  invoke  on  you  and  your  pursuits  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  and  to  reiterate  that  I  am  ^    , 
"Your  faithful  and  affectionate  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

In  ordef  to  understand  the  allusion  to  Bishop  Hobart  and  the 
Convention,  towards  the  close  of  this  letter,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  give  a  short  explanation.  Soon  after  the  bishop's  return,  and 
upon  the  assembling  of  the  Annual  Convention  of  his  diocese,  it 
was  deemed  highly  proper  to  pass  resolutions  expressive  of  .the  : 
feelings  of  the  clergy  and  laity  upon  again  receiving  their  dioi 
cesan  in  health  and  safety;  and  responsive  to  the  aifectionate, 
unbosoming  salutations,  with  which  he  had  just  greeted  them  in 
his  annual  address.  In  doing  this,  a  strong  desire  was  felt  to 
frame  the  resolutions  in  such  language  as  should  insure  their 

*  This  was  a  society,  then  recently  organized  in  our  General  Theologicfil 
Seminary,  for  promoting  among  the  students  a  missionary  spirit.  Its  chief 
object  was,  inquiry  as  to  the  state  and  progress  of  the  missionary  work 
throughout  the  world.  Soon  after  its  organization,  it  was  proposed,  at  its 
deliberations,  to  open  a  correspondence,  for  the  interchange  of  missionary 
intelligence,  with  a  similar  society  in  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 
Such  a  correspondence,  however,  was  deemed,  in  high  places,  inconsistent 
with  attachment  to  the  distinctive  principles  of  the  Church.  It  was,  there- 
fore, abandoned;  and  it  is  believed  the  society  itself  soon  after  ceased  to 
exist.  Perhaps  this  was  one  of  the  "  things  of  portentous  bearing  on  the  in- 
terests of  our  Zioa."  which  "  a  few  days"  from  October  6  were  expected  to 
"elicit." 


262  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  ^ 

unanimous  adoption;  and  as  there  were  known  points  in  the 
bishop's  course  of  church  policy  which  could  not  be  unanimously- 
approved,  it  was  determined,  in  reference  to  those  points,  to  avoid 
any  expression  of  opinion,  and  to  construct  one  of  the  resolutions 
in  the  shape  of  a  simple  pledge  of  devoted,  personal  confidence, 
friendship,  and  affection.  Accordingly,  the  bishop  liaving  tem- 
porarily retired  from  the  Convention,  the  committee  to  whom 
the  subject  was  referred,  introduced  a  series  of  resolutions,  which 
were  received  with  unanimous  approbation.  But  on  presenting 
them  to  the  bishop,  he  expressed  his  decided  dissatisfaction  with 
that  which  referred  personally  to  himself;  and  declared,  that  if 
the  resolution  were  to  stop  short  of  an  approval  of  his  whole  epis- 
copal course,  he  must  decline  receiving  it.  This  unexpected  stand 
threw  on  the  majority  of  the  Convention  the  necessity  of  either 
abandoning  their  complimentary  measure,  or  withdrawing  the 
unsatisfactory  resolution  for  a  substitute  framed  in  accordance 
with  the  bishop's  wishes.  Of  course,  the  latter  part  of  th^e  un- 
pleasant alternative  was  adopted ;  and  a  resolution,  expressing 
the  confidence  of  the  Convention  in  "  the  soundness  of  his  policy,'''' 
was  introduced,  in  company  with  those  which  greeted  his  latp 
return  and  responded  to  his  pathetic  address.  This  movement 
raised  a  debate  on  the  passage  of  the  resolutions ;  and  this  debate 
brought  Dr.  Milnor  upon  the  floor  in  a  speech,  which,  for  ability 
and  Christian  courtesy,  presented  him  in  a  most  attractive  light 
as  an  accomplished  debater  and  as  a  Christian  gentleman,  and 
raised  him  high  in  the  esteem  even  of  those  who  most  differed 
from  him  in  his  views  of  church  policy.  While  he  did  full  jus- 
tice to  the  personal  and  Christian  excellence  of  his  bishop,  and  to 
the  known  friendship  subsisting  between  them,  he  did  not  hesi- 
tate freely  and  frankly  to  avow  his  dissent  from  some  of  the 
opinions  of  his  diocesan,  and  openly  and  manfully  to  vindicate 
his  own  resistance  to  measures  calculated  to  bring  odium  upon 
him  for  the  exercise  of  what  he  felt  to  be  his  Christian  liberty. 
The  scene  which  this  debate  presented,  has  long  since  faded  from 
general  remembrance  ;  but  it  was  thrilling,  and  constituted  a 
beautiful  triumph  to  one  who,  although  he  moved  in  a  little 
minority,  was  yet  able  to  command  admiring  approbation  from 
an  overwhelming  majority.  ,  ^  ,.  . 


HIS  MINISTRY.  263 

Other  letters  to  the  same  correspondent  will  hereafter  be  found 
on  these  pages ;  but  those  which  date  next  in  order,  are  part  of  a 
correspondence  with  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Mcllvaine,  then  professor  at 
"West  Point;  His  labors  as  chaplain  of  the  Military  Academy  had 
already  been  largely  blessed  ;  and  before  the  summer  of  1826  the 
academy  was  agitated  with  the  movements  of  that  great  awak- 
ening, from  the  fruits  of  which  our  church  has  selected  several 
of  her  bishops  and  other  clergy.  About  the  first  of  June,  Dr. 
Milnor  was  induced  to  visit  West  Point,  for  the  purpose  of  spend- 
ing a  Sunday  with  his  friend,  and  assisting  him  in  the  atduous 
labors  to  which  he  was  then  specially  called.  It  was  about  the 
same  time,  that  the  correspondence,  of  which  a  portion  has  been 
preserved,  was  opened.  The  first  of  the  series  from  Dr.  Milnor  is 
wanting;     The  second  is  dated, 

"  New  York,  June  8,  ,1826. 
"  My  dear  Brother — My  mind  dwells  with  inexpressible  de- 
light on  the  transactions  of  the  last  Sabbath.  Especially  when  I 
reflect  on  our  evening  interview  with  those  dear  youth  who  had 
given  themselves  to  the  Lord,  and  with  their  anxious  companions, 
I  cannot  be  sufficiently  thankful  that,  in  the  kind  providence  of 
God,  I  was  permitted  to  witness  such  a  scene.  The  Lord  God 
Almighty  be  with  you,  direct  you  to  the  best  means  of  prosecut- 
ing a  work  so  manifestly  the  product  of  his  Spirit,  and  be  your 
'  refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble,'  should  per- 
secution assail  you  on  account  of  the  unexpected  reward  bestowed 
on  your  labors  in  his  service.  In  the  fulness  of  my  gratitude  to 
God,  of  my  love  to  you,  and  of  the  deep  interest  which  I  feel  in 
the  increase  of  this  Wonderful  instance  of  the  Spirit's  power  on 
the  heart,  I  have  hesitated  whether  I  should  say  a  word  to  you 
that  might  operate  as  a  discouragement.  Perhaps  some  things 
in  my  former  letter  are  calculated  to  have  that  effect,  and  what 
I  am  about  to  add  may  increase  it ;  but,  on  the  whole,  I  think 
it  best  to  acquaint  you  with  any  thing  coming  to  my  ear  that 
may  have  a  bearing  on  the  subject ;  trusting  that  it  may  be  the 
means  of  preparing  you  for  those  difficulties  which  some  are  plot- 
ting to  throw  in  your  way,  and  of  enabling  you,  by  prayerful 
meditation,  to  determine  on  the  best  method  either  of  evading  or 


264  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR 

of  removing  those  difficulties.  The  enemies  of  truth  are  busy  in 
spreading  here  the  grossest  misrepresentations  of  the  character 
of  the  revival,  of  your  manner  of  conducting  it,  and  of  its  '  un- 
happy' effects  on  its  subjects.  From  various  quarters,  since  my 
return,  I  have  heard  it  declared  to  be  a  mere  burst  of  enthusiasm, 
a  sudden  excitement  of  the  animal  passions  of  the  young  men, 
produced  by  your  eloquence :  as  having  led  to  actual  insanity  in 
one,  and,  according  to  the  comforting  prognostications  of  these 
sagacious  opponents,  being  likely  to  have  the  same  effect  on  many 
others ;  and  as  having  disgusted  the  officers,  and  so  alienated  them 
from  you  as  to  make  them  forsake  public  worship  on  Sundays : 
in  short,  it  has  been  said  that  measures  would  be  taken  either  to 

'  stop  these  disorderly  proceedings,  or  to  effect  your  removal. 

"  Yesterday  I  met  a  gentleman  in  Broadway,  who  wears  the 
title  of  major  in  our  militia,  which,  of  course,  makes  him,  in  his 
own  opinion,  a  competent  judge  of  all  matters  connected  with 
military  life.  He  began  his  remarks  by  saying  he  had  been  dis- 
appointed in  his  hope  of  hearing  me  last  Sunday ;  but  understood 
that  I  was  at  West  Point.  He  then  made  some  complimentary 
remarks  on  your  talents  as  a  preacher ;  but  soon  followed  them 
by  an  expression  of  his  deep  regret  at  your  fanatical  proceedings. 
You  were,  he  said,  turning  a  military  academy  into  a  theolog- 
ical seminary,  and  aiming  to  make  young  men  soldiers  in  the 
Church  militant,  (he  meant  ministers,)  whom  the  government 

■  intended  to  train  for  its  army ;  he  understood  that  you  met  them 
for  prayer  every  morning  at  daylight,  and  encouraged  them  to 
neglect  other  studies  for  that  of  religion ;  that  the  most  serious 
apprehensions  were  entertained  of  the  consequent  degradation, 
if  not  ruin  of  the  institution ;  and  that  the  subject  would  be 
brought  before  the  board  of  visitors,  with  a  view  to  an  expression 
of  a  disapprobatory  kind  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  Some  of  his 
representations  I  contradicted,  others  I  explained ;  and  left  him 
with  a  declaration  of  my  belief  that  no  investigation  would  result 
to  your  prejudice  in  the  estimation  of  the  wise  and  good ;  and 
that  every  subject  of  God's  grace  at  West  Point  would,  by  his. 
deportment,  prove  himself  faithful  to  every  duty  incumbent  on 
him  as  a  member  of  the  academy,  without  abandoning  his  enlist-  ■ 
ment  under  ^;he  banner  of  the  Captain  of  his  salvation. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  265 

"  Now,  my  endeared  brother,  let  not  these  things  alarm  you. 
It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  machinations  of  the  enemies 
of  truth,  that  you  may  be  prepared  to  meet, them;  but  to  you, 
and  the  precious  seals  of  your  ministry,  I  would  say,  '  Be  not 
afraid  of  their  terror,  neither  be  troubled ;  but  sanctify  the  Lord 
God  in  your  hearts;  and  be  ready  always  to  give  an  answer  to 
every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  you, 
with  meekness  and  fear  :  having  a  good  conscience,  that  whereas 
they  speak  evil  of  you  as  of  evil-doers,  they  may  be  ashamed  that 
falsely  accuse  your  good  conversation  in  Christ ;'  and  then,  '  if 
the  will  of  God  be  so,  it  is  better  that  you  suffer  for  well-doing 
than  for  evil-doing.'  Yet  it  must  be  admitted,  that  your  situa- 
tion is  inexpressibly  trying,  and  that  you  have  much  need  of 
prayer,  and  patience,  and  self-denial,  and  forbearance  towards 
opposers.  May  God  give  you  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent,  and  the 
harmlessness  of  the  dove,  and  overrule  all  for  his  own  glory. 

,  "  Your  affectionate, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

After  an  answer  to  this  letter  from  Mr.  Mcllvaine,  he  wrote 

again:  n 

"New  York,  June  14,  1826.      '' 

"  My  very  dear  Brother — ^You  have  rightly  understood  every 
intimation  which  I  have  ventured,  on  the  subject  of  prudence 
and  discretion  in  conducting  what  belongs  to  human  agency  in 
the  work  of  grace  at  West  Point.  I  would  do  nothing  from  mere 
motives  of  regard  to  self,  nothing  from  the  fear  of  man ;  but  I 
would,  so  far  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  paramount  duty 
which  you  owe  to  God  and  the  souls  of  men,  avoid  all  that 
would  furnish  a  ground  of  objection  to  the  world,  with  whose 
opposition  you  will  be  sure  to  see  associated  that  of  nominal, 
lukewarm,  unevangelical  professors.  I  would  put  no  weapon  in 
the  hands  of  enemies,  nor  furnish  them  with  even  a  pr«tenco  for 
objection.  Especially  would  I  have  our  dear  young  brethren 
confute,  by  practical  arguments  of  the  most  conclusive  kind,  that 
which  I  now  hear  from  many  quarters,  of  the  deleterious  effects 
of  this  revival  on  the  immediate  duties  of  the  students — its  inter- 
ference with  the  proper  objects  of  the  institution  at  West  Point. 
I  feel  a  most  intense  interest  in  the  uninterrupted  progress  and 


•266  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

propitious  result  of  this  work  of  God,  and  every  day  wish  to  know 
whether  more  are  added  to  the  awakened,  whether  the  inquiring 
are  advancing  to  the  consummation  of  their  desires,  and  whether 
the  dear  brethren  who  have  assumed  Christ's  yoke,  bear  it  as 
they  ought,  and  enjoy  the  sweet  comforts  of  their  calling. 

"  When  does  your  examination  close  ?  How  will  matters 
stand  next  Sunday  week  ?  That  is  the  day  of  our  next  com- 
munion, and  if  all  things  suited,  the  company  of  as  many  of  our 
young  disciples  as  could  come  would  be  gratifying.  I  dare  not 
say  a  word  of  the  delight  which  it  would  give  me  to  have  him 
present,  who,  under  God,  has  been  made  an  instrument  of  good 
to  their  souls,  because  such  an  event  is  not,  I  presume,  within 
the  compass  of  probability. 

"  Last  Sunday,  hot  as  it  was,  I  preached  three  times,  besides 
preaching  the  previous  evening.  I  am  looking  as  anxiously  for 
the  descent  of  the  dews  of  divine  grace  on  my  thirsty  spiritual 
vineyard,  as  the  husbandman  is  now  desiring  that  of  the  rain 
upon  his  parched  fields.  The  Lord  gratify  the  expectations  and 
desires  of  both.  On  Sunday  night  a  crowd  of  believers  joined 
Kie  in  supplications  which,  I  hope,  reached  the  mercy-seat,  for  a 
rich  blessing  on  you,  and  all  interested  in  your  present  trying 
labors.  Give  my  warmest  Christian  salutations  to  the  dear 
cadets,  to  Mrs.  Mcllvaine,  to  your  amiable  sisters,  and  to  all 
whom  we  salute  as  brethren  in  Christ,  and  accept  for  yourself 
the  assurg,nce  of  my  undiminished  affection. 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Mr.  Mollvaine's  answer  to  this  letter,  soon  called  forth  an- 
other. 

"New  York,  June  17,  1826. 

"  My  dear  Brother — Your  letter  of  the  15th,  just  received, 
has  relieved  my  mind  of  some  distressing  apprehensions  in  regard 
to  the  character  and  influence  of  the  opposition,  which  I  found 
was  rising  to  the  work  of  divine  grace  at  West  Point.  I  pray 
God  that  the  only  retribution  awarded  the  enemies  of  truth,  may 
be  the  conquest  of  their  own  hearts,  and  their  introduction  into 
the  ranks  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Cross.  Tell  our  dear  young 
friends,  each  of  them,  to  make,  in  his  private  devotions,  every 
inveterate  opponent  the  subject  of  special  prayer ;  to  forgive  from 


HIS  MINISTRY.  267 

the  heart  every  injurious  expression  which  that  opponent  may 
have  used,  and  to  manifest,  in  necessary  intercourse  with  them 
all,  feelings  not  of  resentment,  but  of  love. 

"I  think  the  course  which  you  have  resolved  to  pursue  in 
regard  to  the  Wednesday  evening  meeting  a  very  proper  one, 
and  have  no  doubt  your  much-respected  superintendent  will  find 
in  the  written  assurance  of  the  cadets  a  solid  pledge  of  the  most 
dutiful  and  exemplary  behavior  on  their  part.  What  can  even 
unbelievers  object  to  the  operation  of  inward  religion  On  the 
minds  of  these  young  men,  when  its  practical  effects  are  seen, 
not  in  the  deterioration,  but  in  the  improvement  of  their  charac- 
ter as  members  of  your  very  excellent  and  useful  institution  ? 
To  the  mind  of  your  colonel,  happily  not  given  over  to  the  delu- 
sions in  which  some  others  are  enveloped,  it  will  give  a  confi- 
dence in  the  maintenance  of  his  present  course,  which  I  am  sure 
all  your  personal  agency  in  the  affair  will  Strengthen  and  con- 
firm. 

"I  thank  you  for  the  explanation  of  that  ominous  'amen;^ 
and  hope  that  every  Christian  cadet,  whatever  prudence  may 
direct  in  regard  to  the  utterance  of  the  lips,  will  always  be  ready, 
with  the  feelings  of  his  inmost  soul,  to  make  this  response  to 
such  a  desire  as  that  which  you  expressed  at  tha  conclusion  of 
your  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  beloved  youth  whom  you  had  bap- 
tized into  the  name  of  Christ,  and  the  open  profession  of  his 
Gospel. 

"I  have  just  finished  a  discourse  for  to-morrow  morning, 
from  Rom.  15  :  13  :  '  Now  the  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy 
and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may  abound  in  hope,  through  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  The  object  of  the  discourse,  as  you 
may  suppose,  is  to  explain,  and  as  explained,  to  defend  the  doc- 
trine of  ASSURANCE.  '  The  God  of  hope'  be  praised,  that  some  of 
our  dear  young  brethren  have  experimentally  realized  its  truth 
by  the  witness  of  God's  Spirit  with  theirs,  that  they  are  his  chil- 
dren. The  Lord  keep  them  by  his  power  through  faith  unto 
salvation.  Though  *  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  they  shall  be,' 
yet  may  every  day's  advance  in  the  divine  life  enable  them  more 
assuredly  to  '  know,  that  when  he  shall  appear,  they  shall  be  like 
him,  for  they  shall  see  him  as  he  is.'   ^ 


268  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  My  family  having  removed  to  Flushing  *  last  Thursday,  I 
am  left  w^ithout  the  means  of  inviting  our  young  friends  to  dom- 
icile with  me  during  their  stay  in  New  York.  But  I  shall  rejoice 
in  giving  them  all  the  aid  I  can  in  facilitating  their  acquaintance 
with  our  religious  institutions,  and  hope  they  will  attend  the 
Tuesday  evening  prayer-meeting  of  the  brethren  of  my  congrega- 
tion. It  will  particularly  delight  me  to  find  you  their  fellow- 
traveller.  Tell  dear  little  Bledsoe,"  a  very  young  cadet,  "that 
that  declaration  and  promise,  ^  I  love  them  that  love  me  ;  and 
they  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me,'  are  assuredly  his,  if  he 
persevere.  Salute  all  your  beloved  flock  with  the  truest  affec- 
tion. God  bless  them,  and  keep  them,  and  make  them  ministers 
of  good  to  all  with  whom,  in  his  gracious  providence,  they  may 
be  called  to  associate.  My  kindest  regards  await  Capt.  D.  and 
your  own  dear  family.  Let  me  continue  to  occupy  a  corner  of 
your  heart,  and  an  interest  in  your  prayers.  ^ 

"Your  brother  in  the  best  of  bonds, 
^  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

•  „  Some  of  the  cadets,  with  Mr.  Mcllvaine  himself,  having  paid 
their  desired  visit  to  St.  George's,  and  to  the  religious  institu- 
i;ions  of  the  city,  especially  the  newly  erected  Tract  Society's 
house,  whence  they  carried  back  large  supplies  of  the  Society's 
publications.  Dr.  Milnor,  after  their  return,  writes  thus : 

"New  York,  June  28,  1826;-  ; 
"  Mv  DEAR  Brother — The  refreshing  intercourse  with  which 
we  were  lately  favored,  has  left  so  sweet  a  savor  in  my  mind, 
that  I  feel  as  if  I  wanted,  every  now  and  then,  a  few  minutes' 
converse  with  you.  And  yet,  I  do  not  know  that  you  require  a 
word  of  encouragement  or  of  counsel  from  one  so  incompetent  as 
myself  to  offer  either;  for  your  heart  is  fixed  on  your  Master's 
work :  you  are  as  fully  aware  as  any  of  my  suggestions  can 
,make  you,  of  the  difficulties  which  you  have  to  encounter ;  and 
you  see  the  necessity  of  uniting,  in  the  required  conflict  with 

*  For  several  years,  during  his  rectorship  of  St.  George's,  Dr.  Milnor  owned 
a  farm  and  a  summer  residence  at  Flushing,  L.  I. ;  but  finding  considerable 
inconvenience  in  the  arrangement,  it  was  subsequently  abandoned,  and  his 
residence  confined  wholly  to  the  city. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  269 

them,  the  wisdom  of  the  serpent  with  the  harmlessness  of  the 
dove.  Still,  I  feel  an  anxiety,  greater  than  words  can  express, 
in  regard  to  the  progress  and  issue  of  this  manifest  visitation  of 
the  Spirit  to  the  dear  youth  at  West  Point.  I  wish  it  to  proceed 
in  a  way  which,  if  it  fail  to  convince  infidel  gainsayers,  will 
lessen  the  apprehensions  of  its  running  into  enthusiasm,  which 
many  professors  who  have  inadequate  views  of  such  matters,  are 
beginning  to  express.  0  for  that  wise,  discriminating  spirit 
which  may  enable  them  to  distinguish  between  the  extrava- 
gances sometimes  exhibited  in  revivals,  and  the  deep,  silent  work 
of  grace  now  in  progress  with  you.     I  fear  that  the  accounts, 

given  by  a  clergyman  of  our  church  from ,  of  the  revival  in 

that  place,  will  have  the  effect  of  increasing  among  our  brethren 
their  opposition  to  every  thing  of  the  kind.  Allowing  for  some 
exaggerations  in  the  statements  of  this  clergyman,  there  are 
many  circumstances,  which  he  narrates  as  facts  positively  known 
to  him,  which  certainly  prove  a  great  want  of  sound  wisdom,  and 
no  inconsiderable  religious  error,  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  in  that 
revival.  And  yet,  while  we  lament  these  aberrations,  which,  I 
doubt  not,  too  much  of  what  Bishop  Hobart  calls  '  animal  excite- 
ment '  has  produced,  I  have  as  little  doubt  that  signal  interposi- 
tions of  divine  mercy  have  occurred ;  and  that,  while  some  have 
mistaken  the  workings  of  their  own  imaginations  for  those  of  the 
Spirit,  many  have  been  truly  born  of  God,  and  will  look  back  to 
this  revival  with  rejoicing  through  eternity. 

"  I  have  hesitated,  but  upon  the  whole  think  it  best  to  state  to 
you,  that  I  have  conversed  with  one  of  the  visiting  committee,* 
who  has  left  West  Point  with  strong  prejudices,  which  I  hope  I 
have  somewhat  diminished.  He  stated  to  me  that  a  very  general 
impression  in  the  academic  staff  was,  that  your  proceedings  were 
fanatical,  had  a  tendency  to  interrupt  attention  to  study,  and 
made  it  indispensable  that  there  should  be  some  interference ; 
and  that  the  subject  was  discussed  by  the  board  of  visitors,  and 
an  attempt  made  to  express  a  very  unfavorable  feeling  towards 
you  and  your  doings.  But  it  was  at  length  concluded  that  it 
should  not  be  done  in  their  official  document,  though  my  inform- 

*  A  committee  annually  sent  by  government  to  conduct  the  examination 
of  the  cadets  in  their  studies  at  the  national  academy. 


270  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ant  regretted  that  your  removal  would  probably  be  the  result  of 
a  less  formal  exhibition  of  the  matter  to  the  war  4epartment. 

"  What  he  expressed  as  a  matter  of  regret,  Ifeel;  for  if  your 
removal  should  take  place,  though  I  am  sure  the  Lord  would  give 
you  the  ability  to  suffer  patiently  in  his  cause,  yet  the  effect 
would  be  disastrous  as  it  respects  West  Point,  and  injurious  in  a 
vast  variety  of  ways,  which  .will  as  readily  suggest  themselves  to 
your  mind  as  they  have  to  my  own.  One  thing,  my  very  dear 
friend,  I  do  desire  you  to  bear  in  memory ;  and  that  is,  that  the 
peculiar  circumstances  in  which  you  are  placed  require  a  course 
of  conduct  very  different  from  that  followed  in  ordinary  revivals, 
and  that,  as  far  as  duty  will  permit,  those  circumstances  should 
be  constantly  regarded. 

"  We  are  full  here  of  ecclesiastical  builders,  busily  engaged 
in  the  construction  of  the  external  temple.  0  that  every  heart 
were  the  place  of  His  hallowed  residence,  for  whom  that  temple 
is  designed.  Christian  regards  to  all  our  dear  brethren  in  the 
Lord.  "  Your  faithful  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Here  close  the  letters  touching  the  West  Point  revival.  If 
more  were  written — and  this  is  probable — they  have  not  been 
preserved.  Those  which  have  been  given  are  characteristic  of 
their  author,  full  of  love  and  zeal  for  his  Master's  work,  and 
equally  full  of  sanctified  wisdom  and  prudence  in  guarding  that 
work  from  danger.  His  fears  of  the  removal  of  his  friend  from 
his  professorship  were  not  realized.  The  work  of  grace  at  the 
military  school  was  fruitful  in  blessed  results ;  and  our  church 
herself  has  reason  to  rejoice  in  what  God  there  wrought  among 
the  youth  of  our  national  institute. 

We  have  next  another  letter  to  the  theological  student,  then 
in  orders.  By  a  committee  of  his  fellow-citizens  of  different 
religious  denominations  he  had  been  invited,  and,  though  opposed 
by  his  clerical  brethren  in  the  college  and  neighborhood,  yet,  on 
account  of  the  superior  size  of  the  building,  he  had  consented,  to 
d^eliver  a  Fourth  of  July  address  in  a  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house, at  a  religious  celebration  of  the  first  semi-centennial  anni- 
versary of  our  national  independence.  It  is  to  his  conduct  on 
this  occasion  that  a  part  of  Dr.  Milnor's  letter  alludes. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  271 

"  New  York,  July  13,  1826. 
"  My  dear  Fjriend  and  Brother — I  was  actually  musing, 
"with  feelings  ef  painful  regret,  on  the  interruption  of  our  corre- 
spondence, when  your  very  welcome  letter  of  the  7th  was  handed 
me ;  and  my  feelings  were  probably  a  little  more  excited  than 
they  would  have  been,  by  having  just  read,  perhaps  for  the  twen- 
tieth time,  the  first  letter  which  you  ever  wrote  me.  The' ingen- 
uous statement  which  that  contained  of  an  experience  so  corre- 
spondent with  the  course  through,  which  the  Lord  led  me  between 
thirteen  and  fourteen  years  ago,  has  always  deeply  affected  rrty 
heart ;  and  its  undoubted  sincerity  has  inspired  me  with  a  per- 
sonal affection  for  you,  which  I  can  allow  no  trammels  of  cere- 
mony to  prevent  my  expressing  in  a  manner  the  most  hearty  and 
unreserved.  And  I  cherish  the  grateful  sensations  with  which 
it  fills  my  bosom  the  more  ardently,  because  I  do  believe  that 
affection  to  be  reciprocal ;  while  I  long  to  see  you  freed  from  the 
shackles  which  I  know  hold  you  back  from  the  formation  of  such 
alliances,  and  from  the  direction  of  your  talents  in  such  a  way, 
as  your  love  for  Christ  and  his  dear  people  would  render  gratify- 
ing to  yourself  and  most  useful  to  his  blood-bought  Church.  My 
dear  brother,  you  must  not  much  longer  bury  your  talents  in  the 
monastery  at ,  nor  live  so  nearly  in  contact  with  ecclesiasti- 
cal icebergs.  I  want  to  see  you  neither  a  fanatic  nor  a  disor- 
ganizer ;  but  I  do  want  to  see  you  where  you  can  give  free  scope 
to  those  animated  conceptions  of  your  high  and  holy  calling,  with 
which,  I  trust,  the  Spirit  of  our  divine  Master  has  filled  your 
heart;  and  where,  with  every  required  attention  to  matters  of 
form,  the  grand  purposes  of  the  gospel  ministry  can  be  kept 
steadily  in  view,  and  prosecuted  by  you  without  the  fear  of  man. 
Your  conduct  on  the  Fourth  was  exactly  such  as  became  you, 
and  will  commend  itself  to  the  approbation  of  God  and  of  good 
men  as  it  does  to  your  oAyn  conscience.  I  am  more  and  more 
persuaded,  that  while  we  should  not  forget  the  meekness  which 
becomes  us  as  the  followers  of  our  lowly  Saviour,  we  gain  nothing, 
eyep  in  the  estimation  of  our  opposers,  by  a  want  of  firmness  in 
maintaining  that  ground  which  duty  to  God  and  love  for  the 
souls  of  men  require  us  to  take.  Notwithstanding  my  apparent 
difficulties,  I  find  more  peace  of  mind,  more  free  communication 


272  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

with  a  throne  of  grace,  more  respect  from  my  opposers  as  well 
as  from  my  friends,  and  more  animation  in  my  various  duties, 
when  I  can  rise  above  the  fear  of  man,  and  go  straight  forward 
in  the  path  which  I  believe  the  providence  of  God  has  marked 
out  for  me,  and  which  his  grace  directs  me  to  pursue.  Do  not 
understand  me,  my  endeared  brother,  as  recommending  incivility 
ot  demeanor,  or  an  unrequired  obstinacy  in  things  indifferent,  or 
a  hasty  self-determination,  taken  without  cautious  inquiry  and 
earnest  prayer.  But  where  we  know  we  are  right  by  the  best 
of  tests,  the  outward  word  and  the  inward  witness,  let  us  beware 
how  we  make  shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience,  in 
accommodation  to  the  views  of  ungodly  men,  or  of  misjudging 
Christians.  ^ 

"  You  see  how  I  open  all  my  heart  to  you,  and  I  want  to 
open  it  still  wider ;  expecting  in  return  just  as  much  of  your 
confidence  as  you  are  pleased  to  give."  i  i><di 

In  the  remainder  of  the  letter,  he  interests  himself  most  gen- 
erously in  the  matter  of  a  parish  for  his  friend,  mentioning  sev- 
eral places  though  of  no  great  promise,  and  then  adding, 

"  Pray  write  to  me,  if  you  think  me  entitled  to  advise  in 
this  matter,  as  you  would  to  your  nearest  and  most  affectionate 
friend,  that  I  may  know,  in  confidence,  your  full  views, 

"  Ever  yours,  ^»n ' 

;'  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

About  this  time  an  incident  occurred,  which,  coming  in  si- 
lently along  the  track  of  his  customary  labors,  must  have  greatly 
gladdened  the  heart  of  this  faithful  minister  of  Christ.  One  of 
the  Episcopal  churches  in  the  city  of  New  York  having  been 
closed  for  two  months  during  the  summer,  a  member  of  its  con- 
gregation who  had  been  a  wretched  backslider,  attended,  during 
that  period.  Dr.  Milnor's  ministry,  both  on  Sundays  and  at  his 
weekly  lectures.  While  thus  engaged,  the  Spirit  of  Grod  fell 
upon  him,  reached  him  as  he  lay  in  the  blood  and  guilt  of  his 
fall,  and  reawakened  him  to  the  trembling  but  blessed  hope,  that' 
he  might  yet  be  embraced  in  the  love  of  his  all-gracious  Re^ 
deemer.  Upon  the  reopening  of  the  closed  church,  and  his  te- 
turn  to  its  regular  ministrations,  he  addressed  a  letter  of  warm 
and  glowing  thanks  to  Dr.  Milnor,  as  the  instrument,  in  Grod's 


HIS   MINISTRY.  273 

hands,  of  the  new  life  which  he  felt  stirring  within  himself, 
and  of  deep  and  humble  supplication  that  they  might  meet  in 
glory  at  the  last  great  day.  The  fact  is  mentioned  as  one  among 
a  multitude  of  instances  in  which  the  labors  of  Dr.  Milnor 
were  blessed  to  others  besides  the  members  of  his  immediate 
charge. 

He  had  now  passed  another  of  the  annual  conventions  of  the 
diocese  of  New  York,  and  soon  after  wrote  again  to  his  friend  in 
college.  Parts  of  his  letter  furnish  perhaps  as  strong  a  view  as 
was  ever  exhibited  of  those  points  in  his  character  and  opinions 
in  which  he  differed  from  his  distinguished  diocesan. 

"New  York,  Oct.  25,  1826. 

"  My  valued  Brother — ^Your  esteemed  letters  of  August  and 
September  are  before  me;  and,  after  the  decided  intimation  of 
the  former  in  respect  to  a  ministerial  settlement,  I  regret  that 
one  or  two  eligible  situations  have  passed  into  other  hands  from 
the  same  cause  which  I  fear  may  continue  to  obstruct  your 
views — your  present  unavoidable  confinement  to  the  duties  of 
college.  There  are  so  many  young  men  who  have  no  difficulty 
in  exhibiting  themselves  at  once  to  vacant  congregations,  and 
there  is  such  a  disposition  in  those  congregations  to  hear  before 
they  commit  themselves  by  a  call,  that  persons  in  your  circum- 
stances must  necessarily  labor  under  a  considerable  disadvantage 
in  any  attempt  at  securing  a  settlement.  I  know  of  but  one 
remedy  for  this;  which  is,  that  gradual  knowledge  of  your  gen^ 
eral  character  and  talents  as  a  preacher,  which  even  in  your 
present  situation  will  be  every  day  spreading  itself.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  this,  with  the  influence  of  friends,  will  ultimately 
lead  to  the  accomplishment  of  your  wishes.  In  the  meantime 
it  may  please  the  Lord  to  subject  you  to  some  trial  of  your  faith 
and  patience.     I  pray  that  he  may  reward  your  submission  to 

his  will  with  evidences  of  his  loving-kindness  at ,  and  with 

a  most  abundant  harvest  in  the  field  to  which  I  trust  he  will 
direct  your  ultimate  labors. 

"  The  bishop's  charge  at  the  late  convention  was  an  official 
array  of  the  leading  parties  in  our  church,  and  a  formal  vindi- 
cation of  that  denominated  ^Hi^h  Church^''  against  the  impu*. 

Mem.  Miluor.  1 S 


274  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

tation  of  bigotry,  fondness  of  power,  formalism,  and  non-evan- 
gelism. I  heard  the  substance  of  it  more  than  two  years  ago  in 
a  sermon  delivered  by  Bishop  Hobart  on  a  Sunday  evening  in 
St.  Paul's.  Every  division  of  it  abounded  with  language  not  to 
be  misunderstood  against  those  whom  I  indignantly  refuse  to 
call,  in  the  sense  intended,  ^Low  Churchman,''  the  pious,  devoted, 
and  liberal  members  of  our  Zion.  In  the  bishop's  subsequent 
ADDRESS  to  the  convention,  he  denounced,  in  unqualiified  terms, 
our  associating  with  other  denominations  in  Tract  Societies  and 
Sunday-school  Unions.  Personally,  to  me  the  bishop  is  as  kind 
as  ever.  But  he  designs  to  wound  me,  and  all  who  think  with 
me,  in  every  official  communication  which  he  makes.  Be  it  so. 
If  persecution  unto  death  were  the  penalty  of  my  persevering 
dissent  from  what  I  deem  his  most  exceptionable  system,  I  feel 
confident  that  God  would  enable  me  to  sustain  the  trial ;  and  I 
have  no  apprehension  that  my  constancy  will  fail  under  any  less 
fearful  expressions  of  that  spirit  which  only  wants  power  to  make 
it  issue  in  acts  of  unqualified  oppression.  I  mourn  over  this 
spirit,  as  I  do  over  the  daily  proofs  which  I  see  of  greater  and 
greater  opposition  to  the  truth.  More  hereafter.  At  present,  I 
have  room  to  say  but  that  I  am, 

"Very  affectionately,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

«>  The  language  of  this  paragraph  has  no  little  strength ;  perhaps 
it  may  be  thought  to  carry  somewhat  of  severe  earnestness.  But 
when  the  circumstances  of  the  w"riter  are  considered — placed,  as 
he  was,  at  the  centre  of  an  opposition  more  easily  felt  than  coun- 
teracted, and  the  more  irritating  in  proportion  as  it  was  irrespon- 
sible— his  expressions,  perhaps,  will  not  be  deemed  too  strong. 
The  letter  is  important  in  its  place,  as  disclosing  more  plainly 
than  any  yet  presented,  the  relation  in  which  he  stood  to  the 
ruling  influences  of  the  diocese ;  a  relation  coeval  in  its  origin 
with  his  rectorship  of  St.  George's,  and  encompassing  him  with 
its  more  or  less  painful  pressure  to  the  end  of  his  days. 

The  next  letter  from  him  was  to  the  same  correspondent, 
and  seems  a  fulfilment  of  the  promise,  at  the  close  of  the  last, 
of  more  "  hereafter."  A  part  of  it  only,  is  of  value  to  this 
memoir.  .      ^  , 


HIS  MINISTRY.  275 

"New  York,  Nov.  17,  1826. 

"  My  dear  Brother — I  have  just  returned  from  Philadelphia. 
The  General  Convention  was  a  very  interesting  one,  not  so  much 
for  the  amount  and  importance  of  the  business  actually  done,  as 
for  the  variety  of  the  subjects  brought  before  it,  and  their  bear- 
ing, if  eventually  consummated,  on  the  feelings  and  interests  of 
the  several  classes  of  clergy  in  our  church. 

"  The  magnificent  project  of  a  Book  Society,  brought  forward 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  B.,  met  with  a  reception  very  different  from 
that  which  he  expected.  Bishop  White  was  much  opposed  to  it, 
and  the  other  bishops  concurred  with  him  in  refusing  to  give  it 
their  sanction  as  a  house.  In  the  house  of  clerical  and  lay  depu- 
ties, Mr.  B,  being  himself  a  member,  defended  his  plan  ably ;  but 
after  much  warm  discussion,  that  body  also  refused  to  give  it 
their  recommendation.  Although  I  subscribed  to  this  object, 
some  time  ago,  at  the  solicitation  of  its  proposer,  yet  I  am  not 
sorry  for  this  result,  nor  shall  I  be  for  its  entire  failure ;  the  aus- 
pices under  which  the  selection  of  publications  is  to  be  made, 
being,  in  my  view,  not  such  as  would  secure  the  appearance  of 
those  most  congenial  with  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  the  friends 
of  evangelical  truth. 

"  It  will  give  you  pleasure  to  learn,  that  notwithstanding  a 
warm  opposition  from  a  certain  staunch  advocate  of  canons  and 
rubrics,  and  from  others  equally  high-toned  with  himself,  both 
houses  adopted  the  report  of  the  committee  on  hymns,  of  which 
we  shall  now  have  over  two  hundred,  most  of  them  very  good. 
The  contemplated  improvement  in  the  psalms  was  not  effected, 
the  committee  not  being  ready  to  report  on.  that  part  of  their 
duty.  They  were,  however,  continued,  and  will  report  to  the 
next  General  Convention.  Bishop  Hobart  was  warmly  in  favor 
of  the  hymns,  and  professed  to  regret  very  much  the  opposition 
with  which  they  met.  The  hoiise  of  bishops  adopted  them 
Unanimously  and  promptly. 

"  Your  neighbor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  C ,  will  tell  you  what  the 

house  of  bishops  have  attempted  to  do  with  our  Liturgy.  On 
the  suggestion  of  Bishop  Hobart,  they  proposed  not  only  that  the 
clergyman  officiating  in  the  Sunday  services  should  be  allowed, 
at  his  discretion,  to  shorten  the  lessons  and  psalter,  but  also,  that 


276  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

it  should  be  at  his  option  to  omit  the  Litany.  This  also  excited 
a  warm  opposition  in  the  lower  house.  Even  our  friends,  so  far 
as  the  litany  was  concerned,  were  against  the  proposed  innova- 
tion; and  the  bishops,  finding  it  so  much  objected  to,  withdrew 
that  part  of  the  proposal.  After  much  debate,  the  other  altera- 
tions were  adopted,  and  according  to  the  constitution,  are  to  be 
transmitted,  for  their  consideration,  to  the  several  state,"  dio- 
cesan, "  conventions,  and  will  be  finally  acted  upon  by  the  next 
general  convention." 

But  the  most  ominously  important  movement  of  this  session 
was,  the  attempted  passage  of  new  canons,  designed  to  augment 
the  power  of  bishops  in  our  church.  In  his  letter.  Dr.  Milnor 
characterizes  them  as 

"  Certain  canons,  making  a  bishop's  rejection  of  a  candidate 
irreversible  and  conclusive  ;  crippling  clergymen  in  regard  to  let- 
ters dismissory  from  one  diocese  to  another  ;  obliging  candidates 
to  apply,"  for  admission,  "to  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  in  which 
they  reside ;  and  giving  new  powers  to  that  officer  in  regard  to 
clergymen  of  other  dioceses  officiating  in  his." 

"  These  canons,"  he  adds,  "  passed  the  upper  house ;  were 
referred  to  a  committee  in  the  lower  ;  by  that  committee  were 
remodelled ;  and  finally,  thank  God,  instead  of  being  passed  in 
any  shape,  were  referred  to  a  joint  committee,  who  are  to  report 
to  the  next  convention.  They  will  never,  I  trust,  be  heard  of 
again,  and  would  have  been  rejected  now,  had  the  vote  been 
taken. 

"  Though  you  may  not  like  its  style,  yet  you  will  be  de- 
lighted when  you  read  it,  with  Bishop  Bowen's  very  conciliatory 
convention  sermon,  from  the  words,  '  For  meat  destroy  not  the 
work  of  God ;'  as  I  was  to  see  the  great  accession  of  strength 
to  the  evangelical  cause,  which  has  been  gained  since  the  last 
convention.  I  feel  sanguine,  that,  under  the  continued  smiles 
of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  the  next  triennial  convention 
will  be  decidedly  right ;  and  even  at  this,  I  am  confident  no 
high-handed  measure  of  the  exclusive  churchmen  could  have 
obtained  a  majority  of  both  orders,  if  of  either,  in  its  favor. 
This  circumstance,  with  the  delightful  change  which  has  been 
effected,  and  is  every  day  becoming  more  marked  in  Pennsyl- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  277 

vania,  is  a  cause  of  grateful  acknowledgment  to  God.     May  it 
all  redound  to  his  glory. 

"  Have  me  much  on  your  heart  in  prayer,  and  believe  me, 
"  Most  affeetionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

His  anticipations  of  the  rightness  of  the  next  triennial  con- 
vention were  in  a  measure  realized.  Nothing  more  was  heard  of 
the  new  power-giving  canons  ;  at  least,  they  have  never  yet  been 
passed ;  and  the  proposed  grant  of  discretion  to  our  clergy  to 
shorten  the  services  of  the  Church,  was,  when  the  measure  came 
up  from  the  various  diocesan  conventions  for  final  action,  by  gen- 
eral consent,  withheld.  Nevertheless,  his  hopes  of  a  decided  in- 
crease of  evangelical  influence  in  the  councils  of  our  church,  are 
proved  to  have  been  rather  "sanguine"  than  solid.  Other  influ- 
ences have  since  arisen ;  and  sad  it  is  to  be  said,  the  tendencies 
of  our  body  have  received  a  melancholy  change.  But  we  must 
proceed  with  the  letters.  His  next  to  the  same  correspondent 
was  dated, 

"New  York,  Feb. '20,  1827. 

"  My  dear  Friend  and  Brother — ^It  is  with  great  pleasure 
that  I  now  congratulate  you  on  your  emancipation  from  the 
drudgery  of  teaching  as  a  secular  instructor,  and  the  assumption 
of  your  more  appropriate  work  of  teaching  men  how  they  may 
become  '  wise  unto  salvation.'  Now  that  you  are  settled  down 
in  a  new  parish  and  a  new  diocese,  I  want  a  long  letter  from  you 
to  tell  me  all  your  feelings  and  doings,  with  all  your  prospects 
and  hopes  of  usefulness.  I  hope,  my  dear  brother,  you  will  ex- 
cuse the  interest  which  I  feel  in  whatever  relates  to  you;  for  I 
have  lost  none  of  that  cordiality  of  attachment  which  I  have  so 
often  had  occasion  to  express,  and  which,  I  trust,  will  be  con- 
tinued beyond  the  little  time  we  shall  be  allowed  to  converse 
together  this  side  of  eternity.  There  is  a  hallowed  character 
in  Christian  friendship,  which  gives  it  a  stability  as  well  as  a 
warmth  unknown  to  the  friendships  of  the  world.  It  is  this 
cherished  enjoyment,  that  fills  my  breast  with  some  of  its  most 
delightful  emotions.  Next  to  the  love  of  Christ,  how  sweet  to 
love  his  disciples,  to  mingle  our  sympathies  with  theirs,  to  inter- 
change evidences  of  affection,  to  repose  in  each  other's  faithful 


278  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

counsels,  and  to  pray  for  spiritual  blessings  on  each  other's  be- 
half. I  bless  God,  that  while  I  am  compelled  to  mourn  over  the 
coldness  of  feeling  among  our  clerical  brethren,  and  am  obliged, 
here,  to  look  for  what  seems  lacking  in  them,  to  those  of  other 
names  but  of  kindred  minds,  I  am  still  solaced  by  the  correspond- 
ence, which  it  is  my  privilege  to  hold  from  week  to  week  with 
distant  brethren  of  more  congenial  sentiment^  and  views.  With 
one  of  these,  our  dear  brother  Mcllvaine,  it  has  recently  been  my 
happiness  to  hold  a  few  days'  personal  converse.  He  preached  for 
me  twice,  the  Sunday  before  last,  in  a  most  powerful  manner ; 
and  the  following  evening  we  had  a  most  interesting  and  affect- 
ing social  meeting  at  the  house  of  one  of  our  brethren.  When 
you  next  write  to  me,  you  must  tell  me  when  you  mean  to  give 
me  the  like  pleasure.  In  visiting  New  York,  you  will,  of  cjourse, 
think  of  no  other  residence  but  with  us. 

"It  will  give  you  pleasure  to  hear,  that  Christians  in  St. 
George's  have  become  more  alive  to  the  necessity  of  combined 
prayer  and  effort  in  behalf  of  the  unconverted.  Though  a  few 
only  of  encouraging  indications  have  appeared  among  the  latter, 
yet  there  is  evidently  more  intense  interest  manifested  both  in 
the  services  of  the  church,  and  in  my  weekly  lecture;  which 
latter  I  continue  to  find  profitable  to  myself  and  to  those  who 
hear  me.  How  stand  matters  with  you?  Will  your  people  bear 
the  truth  ?  I  am  sure  you  will  preach  it,  whether  they  will 
hear  or  whether  they  will  forbear.  The  Lord  bless  and  prosper 
you  in  all  things. 

"Affectionately  yours, 

,  .  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

To   the   same. 

"New  York,  May  28,  1827. 
"My  dear  Brother — I  feel  ashamed,  on  recurring  to  a  large 
bundle  of  unanswered  letters,  to  find  two  from  you,  for  which  I 
believe  no  return  has  been  made.  I  will  not  waste  my  paper 
and  your  precious  time  in  long  apologies ;  but  only  beg  you  to 
believe,  that  I  do  not  intend  to  forego  the  pleasure  and  advantage 
of  your  friendship,  nor,  little  as  is  its  value,  to  withhold  from 
you  mine,  until  the  one  or  the  other  of  us  shall  have  severed 
that  bond  of  union  which  connects  us-— our  common  love  of  the 


'^BR^ 


^. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  /     ^       270    he 

Redeemer — or  have  received  his  summons  to  thatVbleab  abode, 

where  I  pray  God  we  may  be  permitted  to  dwell  ^^ifij^Qi^T^'ryt >  '55s.** 

ever.     That  faith,  which  I  find  the  great  support  of  all  m; 

and  exertions,  encourages  the  persuasion  that  thq  former  event  is 

not  likely  to  occur.     The  latter  we  will  unite  in  leaving  to  the 

disposal  of  Him  \iv^ho  doeth  all  things  well. 

"  I  was  much  interested  by  your  account  of  the  state  of  re- 
ligion in  your  parish.  What  with  the  prevalence  of  immorality 
in  some,  and  of  formalism  and  cold-heartedness  in  others,  your 
difficulties  are  no  doubt  great;  but  God  can  magnify  his  grace 
in  overcoming  all  these  obstacles  to  the  spread  of  his  own  truth ; 
and  I  trust  the  encouraging  symptoms  of  awakening,  noticed  in 
your  letter  of  last  month,  have  already  strengthened  your  faith 
and  animated  your  exertions.  I  am  not  opposed  to  such  a  pru- 
dential regard  to  circumstances  as  may  consist  with  a  faithful 
discharge  of  duty ;  and  I  feel  confident  that  it  will  be  your  study 
to  combine  wisdom  with  harmlessness.  While  we  should  not 
flatter  the  wicked,  nor  withhold,  either  in  public  or  in  private, 
needful  and  timely  reproof,  it  is  both  lawful  and  expedient  to 
temper  all  our  communications  with  Christian  suavity,  and  thus 
convince  those  who  would  oppose  themselves,  that  we  really  love 
them,  and  seek  to  do  them  good.  It  has  been  my  aim  to  with- 
hold no  part  of  the  counsel  of  God;  to  give  no  countenance  to 
either  error  in  opinion  or  viciousness  in  life;  and  to  let  all  my 
views  on  every  point,  whether  of  doctrine  or  of  duty,  be  fully 
known.  But  I  have  never  thought  that  there  was  no  hope  of  a 
sinner's  conversion  but  by  making  him  angry.  Our  best  intend- 
ed communications  may  have  that  effect;  and,  in  such  a  case, 
whether  they  harden  or  convert,  we  must  be  satisfied  with  having 
done  our  duty.  Certainly,  however,  we  should  not  study  to  of- 
fend; and  ever  should  we  keep  a  most  prayerful  and  watchful 
guard  upon  our  own  spirits,  and  be  well  assured  that  our  motives 
are  such  as  will  commend  themselves  to  the  great  Searcher  of 
hearts.  So  doing,  we  may  confidently  leave  our  labors  to  the 
disposal  of  his  providence  and  grace. 

"You  have  heard  the  deplorable  issue  of  things  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  our  friends  managed  the  whole  business,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  as  badly  as  was  possible."     [He  refers  to  meas- 


280  MEMOIR  OP   DR.  MILNOR. 

ures  M'^hich  led  to  the  election  of  an  assistant-bishop.]  "  I  have 
much  to  write  you  on  that  and  other  topics ;  but  I  have  now  only 
room  to  solicit  your  prayers,  and  to  assure  you  that,  so  long  as 
you  will  allow  me,  I  will  remain, 

"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 
-    :  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

Before  his  next  letter  to  the  same  correspondent,  he  had  met 
with  an  accident,  which  came  near  proving  instantly  fatal.  In 
passing  to  the  city  from  his  summer  residence,  he  was  thrown 
upon  the  pavement,  his  head  striking  the  curbstone,  with  a  vio- 
lence which  for  some  days  rendered  his  recovery  very  doubtful. 

"New  York,  Aug.  21,  1827. 

"  My  dear  Friend  and  Brother — I  have  before  me  your  letter 
of  the  26th  of  June ;  and  if  it  were  not  that  I  presume  you  to 
have  heard  of  my  calamity  in  falling  from  the  Flushing  stage  the 
early  part  of  July,  I  should  deem  it  necessary  to  apologize  for  my 
long  silence.  This  is  the  first  day  since  the  11th  ult.  that  I  have 
taken  a  seat  at  my  desk ;  and  I  wish  you  to  consider  it  as  one 
evidence  of  my  continued  and  warm  affection,  that  one  of  the 
first  hours  of  my  recovered  strength  is  devoted  to  you. 

"  During  my  confinement,  I  have  often  looked  for  the  letter 
'Which  you  ought  to  have  written  me ;  but  if  this  be  the  means 
of  drawing  from  you  an  early  communication,  I  will  not  com- 
plain. '  Indeed,  I  fear  you  will  not  discover  much  of  any  other 
object  in  my  writing  to  you  ;  for  a  prisoner,  just  released  from 
a  protracted  seclusion  from  the  world,  is  much  better  fitted  for 
receiving  than  for  communicating  information. 

"  I  have,  however,  some  melancholy  tidings  to  transmit.  Our 
friend  arid  brother,  Mr.  Duffie,"  the  originator  and  first  rector 
of  St.  Thomas's  church,  N.  Y.,  "  died  last  night ;  and,  if  my 
strength  permit,  I  am  to  assist  as  a  pall-bearer  at  his  funeral  this 
afternoon.  A  few  weeks  ago  he  was  at  my  house,  and  had  much 
more  reason  then  to  anticipate  his  being  called  to  such  a  service 
for  me,  than  that  I  should  be  called  to  assist  in  the  last  respects 
to  his  remains.  Thus  mysterious  are  the  "^ays  of  God's  provi- 
dence. 0  how  unutterably  important  to  be  prepared  for  the 
most  sudden  call !     The  Lord  grant  that  all  these  visitations  may 


HIS  MINISTRY.  281 

have  their  due  effect  upon  all  our  minds.  No  reflections  should 
be  more  abiding  with  us  of  the  ministry,  than  the  importance  of 
a  fixed  arid  continued  assurance,  that  while  we  preach  to  others, 
we  do  not  ourselves  become  castaways.  My  personal  warnings 
have  impressively  taught  me  the  value  of  personal  religion,  and 
the  absolute  necessity,  in  the  midst  of  all  our  complicated  duties 
to  others,  to  see  that  matters  stand  right  between  Grod  and  our 
own  souls. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  therefore,  my  dear  brother,  that  your 
accession  to  the  ofiice  of  presbyter  was  accompanied  by  feel- 
ings so  appropriate  to  that  interesting  step  in  your  ministerial 
career.  The  God  whom  we  serve,  preserve  you  and  me  in  a 
constant  feeling  of  our  high  responsibilities,  and  fill  us  with 
the  hopes  resulting  from  a  conscientious  discharge  of  our  mo- 
mentous trusts. 
: .  "  Your  ever  affectionate 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

On  his  return  from  Washington,  whither  he  had  gone  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  clergy,  he  wrote  again  to  the  same  cor- 
respondent. 

"New  York,  Nov.  30,  1827. 

"  My  dear  Friend  and  Brother — Gn  my  return  from  the 
south  I  found  on  my  table  your  kind  communication  of  the  5th 
inst.,  of  which,  if  incessant  occupation  had  not  prevented,  I 
should  have  transmitted  an  earlier  acknowledgment."  After 
alluding  to  the  temporary  ill  health  of  his  correspondent,  he  pro- 
ceeds: "Fn  spiritual  things,  I  am  willing  to  trust  you  in  the 
hands  of  that  God,  to  whom  I  am  assured  you  have  given  your- 
self, body,  soul,  and  spirit ;  and  by  whose  power  you  will  not  only 
be  kept  through  faith  unto  salvation,  but  also,  as  I  trust,  be 
made,  in  your  day  and  generation,  a  blessing  unto  many. 

"I  have  abundant  cause  for  discouragement  in  the  little  fruit 
which  results  from  my  own  labors,  and  in  the  opposition  of  the 
enemies  of  truth  within  our  church.  But,  so  long  as  God  allows 
me,  I  will  strive  to  do  something  in  his  service ;  and  will  pray 
for  grace  to  enable  me  to  meet  the  difficulties,  which  will  ever, 
more  or  less,  attend  the  faithful  laborer  in  his  vineyard.  "We 
have  need  of  much  firmness,  in  upion  with  great  meekness  of 


282  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

tamper,  in  the  present  state  of  things.  By  divine  aid,  I  will  not 
barter  the  hopes  of  eternity  for  the  approbation  of  man ;  nor 
swerve  from  a  course  of  clearly  indicated  duty,  whatever  offence 
it  may  give.  At  the  same  time,  1  am  willing,  and  do  desire  to 
put  my  feelings  under  proper  restraint,  where  undeserved  injuries 
are  offered ;  and  therefore  I  have  refrained,  though  much  incited 
to  it  by  my  friends,  from  answering  the  partial  and  unfair  repre- 
sentation of  a  conversation  between  the  assistant-bishop  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  myself,  which  has  been  appended  to  the  reasons 
published  by  the  Episcopal  college  for  the  consecration  of  that 
most  strenuous  of  high  churchmen.  I  hope  you  have  read  the 
well-considered,  moderate,  and  able  pamphlet  of  dear  brother 
Mcllvaine,  Though  I  felt  averse  to  his  writing,  yet  I  am  satis- 
fied that  what  he  has  done  will  not  only  vindicate  his  character, 
( that  was  unnecessary, )  but  give  information  to  the  public,  which 
was  much  wanted,  as  to  the  sentiments  and  opinions  of  the 
evangelical  clergy.  Every  minister  and  layman  on  the  moderate 
side,  from  whom  I  have  heard  any  expression  of  opinion  respect- 
ing it,  has  given  it  his  unqualified  approbation.  * 

"  In  regard  to  Pennsylvania,  I  verily  believe  that  our  breth- 
ren, in  all  their  procedures,  have  been  actuated  by  pure  motives ; 
but  there  has  been  a  great  want  of  practical  wisdom  in  their 
plans,  and  some  intemperance  of  feeling  in  their  publications. 
For  their  errors  they  are  severely  scourged  in  having  set  over 
them  so  unconciliating  a  man  as  their  present  assistant-bishop. 

"  The  Recorder,  I  fear,  must  necessarily,  at  least  for  some 
time,  maintain  a  character  that  will  be  unpleasant  to  those  who 
take  no  interest  in  the  exciting  controversies  in  the  place  of  its 
publication.  But  they  have  no  other  vehicle  for  communicating 
the  views  of  those  whom,  in  his  convention  address,  and  in  his 
consecration  sermon,  Bishop  Hobart  has  so  clearly  misrepresented ; 
and,  unless  they  give  up  the  evangelical  cause  to  the  unanswered 
attacks  of  their  opposers,  the  paper  must,  for  a  while,  bear  a  con- 
troversial aspect.     I  wish,  as  you  do,  that  we  had  a  miscellany, 

*  The  reference  in  the  above  paragraph  is  to  the  controversy,  which  for  a 
while  agitated  the  Church,  upon  the  retirement  of  the  late  bishop  of  Pennsyl- 
vania from  his  parish  in  Brooklyn,  and  upon  the  settlement  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mcllvaine  in  his  place,  as  the  rector  of  St.  Ann's. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  283 

decidedly  of  the  same  cast  as  to  doctrine,  but  free  from  any 
reference  to  the  local  concerns  of  the  church  in  that  distracted 
diocese.  At  Washington,  however,  it  was  not  found  practicable 
to  do  any  thing  on  this  subject.  Indeed,  it  was  not  formally  dis- 
cussed ;  but  in  conversation,  the  view  seemed  to  prevail,  that 
"The  Repertory"  was  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Theological  Seminary,  and  of  the  Maryland  and  Yirginia 
Education  Society ;  and  "  The  Recorder,"  at  present,  with  the 
defence  of  the  principles  and  conduct  of  the  evangelical  brethren 
in  Pennsylvania ;  and  that,  on  the  whole,  it  must  be  referred  to 
a  more  propitious  moment  to  originate  a  publication  of  a  more 
general  character,  in  which  the  others  should  be  merged.  For 
various  reasons,  it  was  also  thought  best  to  defer  the  formation 
of  a  foreign  missionary  society.  I  was,  however,  delighted  with 
the  devout  and  ardent  spirit  of  piety,  which  animates  our  south- 
ern brethren.  Their  new  building  for  the  Theological  Seminary 
is  about  three  miles  from  Alexandria,  on  a  charming  eminence ; 
and  they  had  an  expectation  of  twenty  students  for  the  present 
session.  They  have  already  sent  forth  several  pious  and  well- 
qualified  laborers,  and  I  do  believe  that  seminary  is  destined  to 
be  a  great  blessing  to  the  church. 

"  Farewell,  my  very  dear  brother.     Pray,  if  your  health  per- 
mit, sit  up  an  hour  later  than  usual  on  some  early  evening,  and 
let  me  hear  from  you  at  large.     I  love  your  letters,  and  I  love 
them  to  be  long,  not  in  coming,  but  in  compass. 
"  With  the  warmest  affection, 

"Ever  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

■J"  .  To  the  same. 

"  New  York,  April  21,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Brother — The  Lord  be  thanked,  that  you  are  still 
able  Xo  work,  and  that  he  is  pleased  to  give  you  souls  for  your 
hire.  Should  the  encouraging  account  which  you  give  me  of  the 
state  of  things  in  your  congregation  be  followed  by  the  result  of 
a  manifest  revival,  you  must  avoid  a  name  so  offensive  to  many, 
and  call  it  '  an  increased  attention  to  religion.'  All  will  then  be 
well.  It  is  a  pity,  when  the  Lord  has  of  late  years  been  so 
evidently  pleased  to  accomplish  the  work  of  his  grace  by  special 


284  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

effusions  of  his  Spirit,  that  in  such  a  church  as  ours,  the  opera- 
tions of  that  Spirit  should  be  denied,  though  proved  by  the  very- 
evidence  to  which  Christ  himself  refers  as  decisive — '  their  fruits."^ 
That  there  have  been  alleged  revivals  which  deservedly  lost  all 
credit  with  considerate  Christians  for  want  of  this  evidence,  none 
of  the  best  friends  of  those  merciful  visitations  will  deny  ;  and  it 
cannot  be  questioned,  i;hat  many  enthusiastic  excesses  and  cen- 
surable circumstances  of  various  kinds,  have  accompanied  true 
revivals.  But  with  every  needed  abatement,  I  have  not  the  least 
doubt  of  their  having  been,  in  countless  instances,  the  means  of 
salvation  to  multitudes ;  and  that  they  are,  and  will  be  among  the 
means  of  hastening  the  latter-day  glory  of  the  church.  Let  us 
pray  earnestly  that  an  anxious  concern  for  the  best  interests  of 
our  fellow-men  may  be  revived  in  our  own  hearts,  and  in  those 
of  our  lay-brethren ;  peradventure  the  covenant-keeping  God 
whom  we  serve,  may  grant  us  a  more  signal  blessing,  in  pouring 
out  his  Spirit  upon  our  people,  than  we  have  yet  known. 

-  "  Our  increase  of  communicants  in  St.  George's  has  not,  of 
late,  been  very  rapid  ;  and  yet  my  Sunday  and  week-day  services 
^ere  never  better  attended,  nor  the  prayer-meetings  more  regu- 
larly held  and  fervently  conducted,  nor  the  six  Sunday-schools  of 
my  church  better  supplied  with  teachers  and  pupils.  Nor  does 
God  leave  himself  without  witness  among  us,  in  the  ingathering 
of  souls.  Since  the  last  Convention,  I  have  received  to  commun- 
ion about  twenty.  We  have  now  some  earnest  inquirers ;  but 
still,  I  mourn  the  coldness  of  my  own  heart,  the  feebleness  of  my 
labors,  and  their  inadequate  results,  and  would  hail  with  un- 
speakable gratitude  such  an  evidence  of  the  divine  favor  as  has 
been  afforded  to  many  congregations  in  our  land,  to  whatever 
odium  it  might  subject  me  in  the  minds  of  many  around  me. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  whom  I  ought  to  appoint  to  the  Milnor 
professorship  in  Kenyon  college  ?  If  I  had  dared  to  hope  that  a 
certain  friend  of  mine,  not  a  hundred  miles  from  you,  would 
have  accepted  it,  he  would  have  been  promptly  named.  iBut  I 
have  had  no  hope.  What  think  you  he  would  have  said  to  such 
a  proposal ? 

"With  unabated  affection,  ever  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR.      • 


HIS  MINISTRY.  285 

To   the  same. 

"New  York,  Eeb,  26,  1829. 
.  *^  My  DEAR  Brother — I  am  now  engaged,  in  addition  to  my 
stated  Friday  evening  lecture,  in  a  course  of  lectures,  every 
Wednesday  evening,  preparatory  to  Confirmation,  which  is  to 
take  place  about  Easter.  I  have  already  lectured  on  the  author- 
ity and  inspiration  of  the  sacred  Scriptures ;  the  being  and  attri- 
butes of  God ;  the  primeval  and  present  state  and  character  of 
man ;  and  salvation  by  grace  through  a  divine  Redeemer ;  and 
shall  proceed  with  the  course  on  the  offices  of  Christ ;  the  per- 
sonality. Deity,  and  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  repentance ; 
faith  ;  justification  ;  sanctification ;  obedience ;  the  Church  ;  the 
sacraments,  etc.  An  unusual  interest  has  been  excited  by  these 
communications,  and  I  pray  God  that  the  spiritual  profit  of  many 
may  be  the  result. 

"  But  in  telling  you  this,  I  have  only  afforded  my  testimony 
to  the  truth  of  that  article  of  our  church  which  declares  that  the 
'  infection  of  nature  doth  remain,'  etc. ;  for  what  but  the  natiiral 
selfishness  of  the  heart  could  lead  me  to  speak  about  myself  Etnd 
my  doings,  when  the  immediate  and  proper  object  of  this  letter 
is,  to  answer  the  inquiries  which  you  have  made  on  the  subject 
of  your  contemplated  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  ?  I  do  sincerely 
congratulate  you  on  the  favorable  prospect  before  you  of  effect- 
ing an  object  which,  in  your  case,  I  think  on  many  accounts 
peculiarly  desirable.  If  I  were  twenty  years  younger,  and  less 
encumbered  than  I  am  with  responsibilities,  you  might  be  bur- 
dened with  an  unprojfitable  fellow-traveller." 

The  rest  of  the  letter  is  occupied  with  answers  to  the  inqui- 
ries of  his  correspondent ;  in  furnishing  which.  Dr.  Milnor  little 
thought,  that  notwithstanding  his  age  and  responsibilities,  he  was 
himself  so  near  his  own  more  important  visit  to  Europe.  Only 
a  single  narration  and  a  letter  or  two  remain  to  be  given,  before 
we  proceed  to  an  account  of  that  interesting  portion  of  his  life. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1828,  and  the  beginning  of  1829, 
Dr.  Milnor  passed  through  one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of  his 
ministerial  course.  It  was  the  part  which  he  took  in  the  organ- 
ization and  dissolution  of  "  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Clerical 
Association  of  New  York." 


286  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  ' 

During  the  summer  of  1828,  a  feeling,  which  had  for  some 
years  been  rising  in  the  Church,  began  to  express  itself  in  a  half- 
audible  call  for  some  association  of  a  specially  clerical  character, 
"for  the  purposes  of  prayer,  religious  conversation,  expounding 
the  Scriptures,  and  other  similar  exercises."  One  of  the  first 
utterances  of  this  feeling  was  in  the  ear  of  Bishop  Hobart,  by 
"  the  rector  of  one  of  the  principal  congregations  of  the  city." 
This  address  to  the  bishop  was  evidently  prompted  by  a  desire  to 
engage  him  as  the  head  and  leader  of  the  movement,  it  being 
well  known  that  whatever  of  a  religious  character  he  should 
either  favor  or  oppose,  would  be  either  favored  or  opposed  by  the 
great  majority  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  diocese.  Unfortu- 
nately, although  the  suggestion  came  to  him  from  one  with  whom 
he  had  "  the  happiness  to  agree  substantially  as  to  principles  and 
policy,"  yet,  while  he  "approved  the  contemplated  object,"  he 
had  "  various  objections  to  the  proposed  plan  of  accomplishing 
it,"  But  as  the  interview  was  friendly  and  unofficial,  the  sub- 
ject being  "kindly  discussed"  between  the  parties,  it  was  not 
supposed  that  the  bishop's  objections  would  lead  him  openly  and 
officially  to  oppose  the  niovement.  Accordingly,  when  the  An- 
nual Convention  assembled,  in  October,  1828,  it  was  determined 
by  the  clergy  who  were  favorable,  to  proceed  to  the  contemplated 
organization.  A  preparatory  meeting  was  held,  and  a  second 
appointed  for  "consummating"  it. 

In  these  steps,  no  further  consultation  with  the  bishop  was 
had,  because  it  was  thoroughly  felt  that  all  such  consultation 
would  be  unavailing,  and  because  it  had  been  determined  to  pro- 
ceed in  the  prosecution  of  an  object,  which  the  movers  considered 
of  great  importance,  and  from  the  prosecution  of  which  no  earthly 
power  had  a  right  to  restrain  them. 

A  few  hours,  however,  before  the  meeting  for  "  consummat- 
ing" the  organization,  the  bishop  "accidentally  heard"  of  what 
was  passing,  and  "  immediately  resolved  on  seeing  two  of  the 
four  or  five  clergy  of  the  city  who,  as  far  as  he  could  learn,  were 
as  yet  engaged  in  this  measure,  in  order  to  a  frank  and  friendly 
communication  with  them."  These  two  clergymen  were  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Wainwright  and  Milnor.  "  To  them  he  stated  ear- 
nestly and  solicitously  the  reasons  which  convinced  him  that  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  287 

plan  which  they  proposed  for  accomplishing  their  object,  was 
inexpedient  and  unnecessary."  Still,  as  in  these  interviews,  es- 
pecially in  that  between  Bishop  Hobart  and  Dr.  Milnor,  the 
former  expressly  disclaimed  addressing  the  latter  in  an  official 
capacity,  and  more  than  once  desired  to  be  considered  as  convers- 
ing with  him  "  not  as  his  bishop,  but  as  a  friend,"  it  was  not 
deemed  either  necessary  or  advisable  to  desist  from  the  work 
upon  which  they  had  so  seriously  entered.  They  therefore  per- 
severed, and  on  the  evening  of  that  day  completed  the  organi- 
zation of  "  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Clerical  Association  of  the 
City  of  New  York,"  having  "  for  its  object  the  promotion  of  the 
personal  piety  and  the  official  usefulness  of  its  members,  by  devo- 
tional exercises  and  by  conversation  on  missionary  and  such  other 
religious  subjects  as  might  conduce  to  mutual  edification." 

From  its  inception,  this  society  was  composed  of  clergymen 
representing  the  various  shades  of  opinion  in  the  Church,  and 
was  otherwise  guarded  against  the  danger  of  abuse.  Its  meet- 
ings were  opened  and  closed  with  approved  forms  of  devotion; 
any  clergyman  of  our  church  in  New  York  and  its  vicinity,  of 
whatever  shade  of  opinion,  might  become  a  member  by  signify- 
ing his  wish  to  the  secretary  in  writing,  with  his  approbation  of 
the  nature  and  object  of  the  association  ;  and  any  member  might 
invite  any  other  clergyman  of  our  church,  not  resident  in  either 
New  York  or  its  vicinity,  to  attend  any  of  the  regular  meetings 
of  the  society.  Besides,  by  mutual  consent,  the  ordinary  topics 
of  theological  and  ecclesiastical  controversy  were  excluded  from 
the  discussions  of  the  members,  and  their  exercises  directed  to 
"the  promotion  of  harmony  of  feeling  and  of  character,"  and 
not  to  that  of  "perfect  uniformity  of  opinion."  This  latter  re- 
sult they  professed  to  consider  "just  about  as  feasible  as  to  regu- 
late the  proportions  of  the  waves  of  some  mighty  river." 

Thus  organized,  constituted,  and  designed,  the  association 
commenced  its  regular  meetings.  It  was  some  months,  however, 
before  the  printed  constitution  and  forms  of  devotion  could  be 
furnished  for  the  use  of  the  members.  The  pamphlet  containing 
these  documents,  printed,  not  published,  came  from  the  press  at 
the  close  of  the  year  1828;  but  being  "at  first  inaccurately 
printed,"  "many  corrections  were  necessary,"  and  it  was  not 


288  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ready  for  distribution  until  several  weeks  later.  At  length  a 
copy  of  the  corrected  impression,  bearing  the  imprint  of  1829, 
fell  into  the  bishop's  hands.  Indeed,  "  it  had  been  intended  to 
send  a  copy  to  each  Protestant  Episcopal  clergyman  in  the  city." 
Before  this  could  be  done,  however,  and  even  "  before  the  mem- 
bers received  their  copies,"  one  "accidentally"  met  the  bishop's 
eye.  He  immediately  issued  his  memorable  "Pastoral  Letter,'' 
addressed  "to  the  clergy  and  laity"  of  the  diocese.  This  docu- 
ment appeared  the  21st  of  February,  1829,  "  before  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  association"  after  the  correction  of  their  constitution 
and  forms  of  devotion  ;  so  that  the  members  received  the  Pastoral, 
in  all  its  formidableness,  before  they  were  favored  with  a  sight  of 
their  own  simple  regulations  and  ritual  in  print.  It  came  "  not 
merely  to  the  surprise,  but  to  the  utter  astonishment  of  every 
member,  some  of  whom  would  not  believe  the  rumor  of  its  pub- 
lication, when  it  reached  them."  To  rumor,  however,  quickly 
succeeded  ocular  demonstration,  and  they  were  left  with  nothing 
to  do  but  to  gather  up  their  scattered  powers  of  reflection,  and 
forthwith  consider  the  question,  whether  they  would  dissolve  the 
association,  or  continue  it  against  the  officially  expressed  disap- 
probation of  their  bishop. 

Meanwhile,  they  published  to  the  world  their  constitution  and 
forma  of  devotion,  with  "  Prefatory  Remarks,"  explaining,  and 
mildly  defending  their  course,  and  taking  a  brief  but  respectful 
notice  of  the  "Pastoral  Letter."  This  drew  forth  a  "Vindica- 
tion" of  the  "Letter,"  anonymous  in  form,  but  evidently  from 
the  pen  of  the  bishop.  This,  in  its  turn,  was  followed  by  a  full 
"  Account  of  the  true  nature  and  object  op  the  Association," 
witji  "  A  Defence"  of  the  same  from  objections  which  had  been 
urged  against  it.  And  this,  finally,  was  succeeded  by  a  "  Brief 
Notice"  of  the  Account  and  Defence,  probably  from  the  same 
pen  with  the  "  Vindication."  The  public  papers,  too,  took  up 
the  doings  of  the  bishop  and  the  association;  the  noise  was 
heard  from  end  to  end  of  the  land ;  even  from  beyond  the  eastern 
limits  of  the  states  came  back  an  echo  of  the  sound ;  and  various 
movings  in  the  atmosphere  of  feeling  disturbed  the  quiet  of  the 
Church. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this,  the  fate  of  the  association  was  decided 


HIS  MINISTRY.  289 

by  the  movement  of  one  of  its  members,  who  had  been  the  first 
actor  in  the  business.  He  withdrew,  and  in  a  published  letter 
to  his  brethren  of  the  association,  assigned  his  reasons  for  the 
step.  Immediately  after  the  receipt  of  his  letter,  the  remaining 
members  decided  upon  dissolving  the  organization.  Their  "  Ac- 
count and  Defence "  was  accordingly  accompanied  with  a  state- 
ment of  reasons  for  the  dissolution.  The  feeling  of  the  associa- 
tion had  previously  been  in  favor  of  its  continuation,  but  the 
withdrawment  of  one  of  its  leading  members  changed  the  aspect 
of  the  question  before  it,  inasmuch  as  its  continuation  after  that 
event,  would  have  seemed  to  justify  the  charge  of  partisan 
design.  The  members,  therefore,  no  longer  deliberated,  and  the 
dissolution  was  publicly  announced  in  their  very  able  "  Account 
and  Defence  "  of  the  organization. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  brief-lived  "Protestant  Episcopal 
Clerical  Association  of  New  York."  -  •• 

It  has  been  given  because  Dr.  Milnor  was  one  of  the  two 
leading  presbyters  under  whose  auspices  it  was  organized,  and 
that  one  emphatically  on  whom  the  heaviest  weight  of  odium 
fell,  in  consequence  of  the  position  assumed  and  of  the  course 
pursued  by  Bishop  Hobart.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  here  into 
a  defence  of  Dr.  Milnor's  agency  in  the  matter.  It  may  be  well, 
however,  to  add  to  the  foregoing  statement  some  few  general 
reflections,  inasmuch  as  the  case  involves  a  great  general  prin- 
ciple. 

The  members  of  the  association,  in  their  reasonings  on  the 
case,  alluded  to  the  fact,  that  so  far  as  schism  in  the  Church  is 
found  to  follow  those  actings  of  the  religious  life  which  sought 
expression  in  the  exercises  of  their  body,  the  evil  flows,  not  from 
the  nature  and  tendency  of  such  associations  in  themselves,  but 
from  the  unreasonable  opposition  with  which  they  so  uniformly 
meet.  This  fact  has  been  specially  observable  in  the  case  of  the 
continental  Reformation  in  Europe,  and  in  those  of  the  Puritans 
and  Methodists  in  England.  Had  the  ruling  majority,  during 
those  great  crises,  abstained  from  contumelious  treatment,  oppo- 
sition, and  persecution,  the  manifestations  among  them  of  relig- 
ious life  would  have  wrought  no  schism.  That  life  would  have 
spread  quickeningly  and  purifyingly  in  and  through  the  Church, 

Mem.  Milnor.  ■  1 9 


290  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

till  the  whole  would  have  felt  the  blessed  and  the  needed  in- 
fluence. Humanly  speaking,  popes  and  bishops  had  the  control 
of  this  result  in  their  own  hands ;  and  by  putting  themselves  at 
the  head  of  the  movements  around  them,  and  directing  instead 
of  opposing  them,  might  have  made  the  Reformation,  or  the  re- 
vival of  the  Church,  a  safe  and  peaceful  process. 

The  same  principle  governs  the  humbler  cases,  in  which  these 
same  actings  of  the  religious  life  seek  to  develope  themselves 
among  us.  Were  they  left  unopposed,  especially  if  ruling  ma- 
jorities would,  with  a  prudence  sought  from  above,  favor  and 
guide  them  in  their  course,  the  peace  as  well  as  the  unity  of  the 
Church  would  remain  undisturbed ;  and  its  religious  life,  diffus- 
ing itself  more  uniformly,  would  reach  and  maintain  itself  at  a 
higher  and  more  satisfying  point.  It  is  when  opposed  and  treated 
with  harshness  and  contumely,  that  extremes  follow  its  stronger 
movements.  In  the  best  actings  of  this  religious  life,  there  is 
always  enough  of  human  infirmity  to  feel  keenly  the  injustice 
of  such  treatment.  It  must  be  remembered,  too,  that  when 
extremes  begin  to  evolve  themselves,  they  are  never  found  all  on 
one  side.  If  what  may  be  termed  the  spiritual  element  be  driven 
into  an  extreme  on  the  one  hand,  the  ritual  element,  as  it  may 
be  called,  will,  by  an  invariable  law  of  moral  forces,  certainly 
be  found  in  an  equal  extreme  on  the  other. 

In  thus  distinguishing  the  spiritual  from  the  ritual  element, 
the  meaning  is  not,  that  the  former  is  incapable  of  expressing 
itself  in  ritual  forms,  or  that  it  is  a  spirit  which  seeks  freedom 
from  external  order  and  ceremonies.  It  is,  undoubtedly,  a  spirit 
which  refuses  to  be  bound,  as  if  in  chains,  at  all  times  and  under 
all  circumstances,  to  one  prescribed  mode  of  worship.  At  the 
same  time,  however,  it  is  a  spirit  compatible  with  consistent  and 
most  profound  attachment  to  one  prescribed,  if  scriptural  mode 
of  worship,  and  with  enlightened  and  most  reverent  regard  for 
all  the  appointments  of  Grod's  visible  Church.  To  suppose,  on 
the  one  hand,  that  this  spiritual  element  must,  at  all  times  and 
under  all  circumstances,  be  bound  to  one  prescribed  mode  of  wor- 
sship,  is  to  claim  for  that  mode  a  divine  original,  imposing  itself 
on  the  observance  of  Christians  with  a  divine  obligation.  It  is 
to  lose  sight  of  the  truth,  that  in  the  Christian  Church,  all  par- 


HIS   MINISTRY.  ^(^ 

tieular  modes  of  worship  are  confessedly  matters  of  mere  human 
arrangement  and  expediency  ;  and  therefore  cannot,  by  ecclesias- 
tical authority,  be  made  obligatory  beyond  the  times  and  occa* 
sions  for  which  they  are  avowedly  designed.  And  on  the  other 
hand,  to  suppose  that  the  spiritual  element  in  the  Church  cannot 
express  itself,  with  full  and  entire  satisfaction,  in  ritual  forms,  at 
the  times  and  on  the  occasions  for  which  those  forms  are  de- 
signed, is  to  admit,  either  that  the  particular  "routine  of  pre- 
scribed formularies"  is  indeed  "dull,"  spiritless,  without  food  for 
the  soul  in  its  intenser  moods  of  action ;  or,  that  such  routine  is 
unscriptural,  superstitious,  corrupting  to  religious  character : 
neither  of  which  will  be  admitted  by  those  who  love  to  be  always 
bound  to  forms ;  certainly  neither  will  be  alleged  by  those  who 
plead  for  liberty  of  action  at  times  and  on  occasions  for  which 
existing  forms  were  not  designed. 

if-  ■'  It  is  important  to  observe,  that  these  two  elements — ^ttie  ritual, 
or  that  which  loves  to  confine  itself  to  prescribed  forms  and  cer- 
emonies ;  and  the  spiritual,  or  that  which,  while  capable  of  most 
reverent  attachments  to  lively  and  scriptural  forms,  and  of  full 
enjoyment  in  them,  still  claims  the  liberty  wherewith  the  Church 
as  well  as  Christ  hath  made  it  free  at  times  and  in  places  not 
contemplated  by  public  rituals — either  always  are,  or  at  any 
time  may  be,  present  in  the  Church.  Should  any  church  be- 
come thoroughly  and  literally  dead  in  ritualism,  as  distinguished 
from  a  rational  love  of  forms,  it  would  still  be  impossible,  unless 
God  had  for  ever  cast  off  that  church,  to  prevent  the  revival  and 
growth  within  it  of  the  spiritual  element,  as  just  defined.  The 
world  rolls  round ;  and  it  would  be  as  impossible  to  make  night 
perpetual  in  any  one  region,  as  it  would  be  to  make  utter  spirit- 
ual death  perpetual  in  any  church  not  for  ever  deserted  of  God. 
The  revolutions  in  the  spiritual  world  may  be  slower  than  those 
of  the  natural,  but  they  are  not  less  sure.  Generally,  however, 
the  ritual  and  the  spiritual  elements  coexist  in  every  church, 
especially  in  every  church  which  has  chosen  to  adopt  in  its  pub- 
lic worship  prescribed  forms  of  prayer ;  and  they  coexist,  not  as 
necessarily  invidious  and  antagonistic  distinctions,  but  as  possibly 
rational  and  harmonious  developments.  There  is  no  more  reason 
for  supposing  that  the  true  religious  life  must  always  deyelope 


$93  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

itself  in  one  of  these  forms,  than  there  is  for  supposing  that  the 
natural  life  must  always  develope  itself  under  one  invariable 
temperament.  Grace  does  not  annihilate  nature ;  it  does  but 
renew  and  sanctify  it  in  all  its  peculiar  developments. 

Allowing,  then,  that  in  any  particular  church  the  ritual  ele- 
ment is  enlightened  and  rational  as  well  as  devout  and  reveren- 
tial ;  still,  it  has  no  more  right  or  reason  on  its  side  in  endeav- 
oring to  expel,  or  even  to  repress  from  activity,  the  spiritual 
element,  than  the  latter  would  have  in  endeavoring  to  expel  or 
to  repress  the  former.  To  assume  the  converse  of  this  proposi- 
tion, is  to  assume  that  this  spiritual  element  is  sheer  delusion, 
the  work  of  Satan,  or  of  mere  corrupt  nature,  with  which  the 
Spirit  of  God  has  no  intercourse  or  concern :  a  position  which 
the  most  strenuous  advocate  of  forms  dare  not  assume.  In  as- 
suming it,  any  sane  and  reflecting  Christian  would  be  afraid  of 
being  smitten  with  some  irrepealable  curse.  It  is  futile  to  at- 
tempt to  avoid  this  by  saying,  that  the  spiritual  element  is  liable 
to  dangerous  mixtures  with  mere  animal  heats  and  delusions, 
and  that  therefore  the  ritual  element  has  a  right  to  war  against 
its  movements ;  for  if  such  a  danger  exist  on  the  one  hand,  it  is 
equally  true  on  the  other,  that  the  ritual  element  is  liable  to  dan- 
gerous mixtures  with  mere  animal  chills  and  pharisaisms,  and 
that  therefore  the  spiritual  element  has  a  right  to  drive  it  out 
of  the  Church.  Thus  would  be  established  the  right  to  ceaseless 
warfare  within  what  was  designed  to  be  the  ever-tranquil  fold  of 
the  Prince  of  peace.  The  truth  is,  under  any  of  its  developments, 
grace  cannot  come  into  fallen  human  nature,  without  liability  to 
abuse  from  that  nature  ;  and  there  is  no  more  reason  for  suppos- 
ing that  the  Spirit  of  God  holds  exclusively  with  the  ritual,  than 
there  is  for  believing  that  he  holds  exclusively  with  the  spiritual 
element  in  the  Church  ;  and  therefore  the  true  inference  is,  that 
both  should  be  prayerfully  watched,  and  prayerfully  cultivated, 
that  thus  unbroken  peace  and  brotherhood  may  always  prevail 
within  the  household  of  Christ. 

To  apply  this  to  such  cases  as  that  of  the  association  whose 
brief  history  has  been  given :  If  the  Spirit  of  God  have  intercourse 
and  concern  with  the  spiritual  element  in  the  Church,  which  it 
were  profaneness  to  deny,  then  it  is  not  merely  the  interest,  but 


HIS  MINISTRY.  '  298 

also  the  duty  of  the  Church,  while  seeking  wisdom  from  God  to 
regulate  it,  to  cherish  and  direct  it  also  to  its  intended  good 
results ;  and  niore  than  this,  to  secure  for  it  the  free  privilege 
of  its  own  peculiar  modes  of  action  and  expression-^so  long,  at 
least,  as  it  respects,  reverences,  and  observes  those  which  the 
Church  has  rightfully  prescribed.  It  shpuld  be  well  understood 
and  cordially  admitted,  that  this  element  is  a  part  of  the  Church, 
and  its  actings  a  part  of  the  Church's  action ;  that  this  element 
and  its  developments  are  just  as  normal,  and  as  Christian,  and 
therefore  as  privileged,  as  any  other  element  and  its  developments. 
Christ  designed  that  this  element  should  be  in  his  Church,  and 
should  have  scope,  not  merely  for  its  private  opinions  and  judg- 
ments, but  also  for  the  appropriate  action  of  its  peculiar  sympa- 
thies, capabilities,  adaptations,  and  tendencies.  It  has  work  to 
do,  and  results  to  evolve ;  and  it  comes  forth  in  the  Church,  not 
"  bound  hand  and  foot,"  but  "  Christ's  free  man ;"  under  law  to 
him  always,  under  law  to  his  Church,  where  she  hath  rightful 
authority ;  yet  under  his  commission  still  to  go  free,  and  do  its 
work  openly,  unimpededly,  efficiently,  for  his  Church  and  in  his 
Church,  as  well  as  for  the  world  and  in  the  world.  In  this  work, 
it  is  not  merely  the  interest,  it  is  also  the  duty  of. the  Church  to 
cherish  and  defend  it.  It  is  not  enough  to  let  it  alone  ;  to  keep 
off  from  it  the  persecuting  hand  and  the  persecuting  tongue ;  to 
treat  it  as  a  merely  tolerated,  endured,  yet  displeasing  presence : 
it  must  be  cordially  welcomed,  honored,  provided  for,  as  a  most 
glorious  part  of  the  Church,  and  as  doing  in  it  a  portion  of  Christ's 
most  glorious  work. 

In  the  church  to  which  Dr.  Milnor  belonged,  it  may  be  be- 
lieved, this  treatment  of  the  spiritual  element  would  be  not  only 
safe,  but  peculiarly  safe.  It  is  surrounded  with,  perhaps,  just 
that  provision  of  safeguards,  which,  so  far  as  the  injfirmities  ot 
fallen  man  may  render  its  action,  under  any  circumstances,  un- 
safe, is  best  calculated  to  counteract  the  danger,  while  securing 
all  the  richest  benefits  which  this  modification  of  the  religious  life 
is  designed  to  yield.  Instead,  then,  of  frowning  upon  it,  and  setting 
themselves  against  it,  let  the  ruling  powers  fearlessly  and  cordially 
put  themselves  at  the  head  of  all  its  manifestations,  and  cherish, 
while  directing  them,  in  the  spirit  of  a  heavenly  wisdom.     The 


MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

world  may  then  see  a  Church,  combining  all  the  best  life  of  purity 
and  efficiency  with  all  the  best  beauty  of  order  and  decency. 

The  opposite  of  this  treatment,  we  may  be  assured,  inflicts 
on  the  Church,  in  the  long  run,  one  of  her  most  sejious  wounds. 
Treated  with  persecution  or  harshness,  this  element  must  flee,  as 
it  did  in  the  Puritan  and  Wesleyan  movements,  if  not  to  the 
mountains,  at  least  to  independent  positions,  where  it  can  defend, 
maintain,  and  expand  itself.  And  then,  when  any  church  has 
lost  that  portion  of  its  members  in  whom  this  element  had  mani- 
fested itself,  it  is  impossible  to  prevent  the  revival  of  the  same 
spirit  among  those  who  remain.  Hence,  a  new  portion  must  bo 
driven  for  refuge  and  activity  out  of  its  pale ;  and  thus  that 
church  will  be  successively  drained  of  portions  of  its  life  and 
substance  which  it  can  least  aflbrd  to  lose.  No  church  can 
afford  to  undergo  continually-repeated  depletions.  We  can  en- 
dure the  thought  of  the  world's  losing  successive  portions  of  its 
population,  when  drawn  off"  to  be  made  alive  in  a  living  church ; 
but  not  the  idea  of  any  church  losing  such  portions  of  its  own 
soul  and  body,  though  drawn  off"  to  be  nourished  and  kept  alive 
under  other  auspices.  No  local  church  can  bear  such  a  process 
without  the  peril  of  falling  at  last  into  either  a  moral  atrophy,  or 
a  literal  depopulation.  Christ  designed  not  that  his  Church,  or 
any  portion  of  it,  should  be  continually  parting  with  its  numbers, 
but  that,  in  every  portion,  it  should  be  continually  adding  to  its 
multitudes. 

This  design  cannot  be  realized  under  the  circumstances  which 
we  have  been  reviewing.  It  is  plainly  too  much  to  expect  of  hu- 
man nature,  even  in  its  best  state  on  earth,  that  individuals  in 
whom  the  spiritual  element  is  developed,  can  be  kept  in  a  church, 
yet  always  in  fetters ;  tolerated  in  their  private  opinions  and 
judgments,  yet  restrained  from  all  peculiar  modes  of  expressing 
their  own  sympathies  and  activities.  Theirs  is  a  spirit  which 
loves  law  and  order,  and  will  abide  them  ;  but  it  is  also  a  spirit 
which  loves  liberty  and  action,  where  Christ  and  true  cliurch 
authority  have  left  it  free  to  act ;  and  such  liberty  and  activity  it 
must  and  will  enjoy,  or  it  will  either  expire  where  it  stands,  or 
go  and  seek  what  it  needs  elsewhere :  leaving  other  and  perhaps 
more  vigorous  manifestations  to  revive  in  its  vacated  place,  and 


HIS  MINISTRY.  295 

to  work  out  its  postponed,  but  appointed  mission  and  destiny. 
It  has  common  sympathies  and  susceptibilities,  which  fit  it  to 
live  and  act  in  harmony  with  its  ritual  companion,  and  to  make 
the  companionship  a  blessing  to  both ;  but  it  has  also  sympathies 
and  susceptibilities,  wants  and  necessities,  which  ask  for  other 
and  freer  exercise ;  and  this  exercise  it  must  and  will  have.  It 
is  not  a  thing  of  opinion  and  judgment  alone,  which  may  be 
privately  entertained,  and  with  private  entertainment  be  satis- 
fied ;  but  a  thing  of  life  and  activity  also— assimilated,  in  some 
of  its  living  and  active  attributes,  to  ritualism — peculiar  to  itself 
in  others,  and  as  such  demanding  other  and  peculiar  modes  of 
expression.  It  is  a  spirit  which  may  be  traced  through  the 
Church  from  Christ's  time  to  our  own ;  and  enough  is  known  of 
its  history  to  show,  that  it  is  one  of  the  offspring  of  God  in  his 
great  kingdom,  and  not  a  mere  progeny  of  man  in  his  fallen  es- 
tate. Let  it,  then,  be  treated  according  to  its  true  origin  and 
character.  It  will  thus  work  out  its  mission  and  its  destiny 
peacefully  and  blessedly,  bringing  high  glory  to  its  Author,  and 
wide  good  to  its  objects.     But  it  is  time  to  return  to  the  memoir. 

His  next  letter,  on  the  list  of  those  which  have  been  recov- 
1  ...... 

ered,  was  on  a  subject  deeply  interesting  to  its  writer,  that  of  a 

school  for  training  colored  missionaries  to  Africa. 

-•5  To  the  Rev.  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw. 

"New  York,  Jan.  27,  1830. 
*!i  "Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  sympathize  sincerely  with  your 
young  friend,  whom  I  presume  to  be  Mr.  Cleveland,  in  the  anxiety 
which  he  has  so  long  felt  to  direct  his  efforts  into  a  channel  of 
usefulness,  for  which  there  has  yet  appeared  no  opening.  The 
school  attempted  some  years  ago  in  New  Jersey,  for  the  in- 
struction of  colored  youth  having  a  view  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  fell  through,  partly  for  want  of  support,  and 
partly  in  consequence  of  the  licentious  conduct  of  some  of  the 
pupils.  A  subsequent  attempt,  principally  by  gentlemen  in  New- 
ark, and,  on  their  invitation,  a  few  from  other  states,  who  con- 
sulted together  at  a  meeting  in  that  place  which  I  attended,  wa» 
followed  by  no  beneficial  results.  It  was  then  hoped  that  a  con- 
siderable sum  left  by  General  Kosciusko,  might  be  secured  for 


296  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

this  purpose ;  and  Mr.  Lear  of  Washington,  who  is  administrator, 
cum  testamento  annexo,  and  who  has  the  funds  in  his  hands, 
gave  encouragement  for  such  a  hope.  Afterwards,  however, 
General  Kosciusko's  will  was  contested  by  his  relatives;  and 
whether  it  is  still  in  litigation  or  not,  I  do  not  know. 

"  In  the  African  mission-school  at  Hartford,  there  are  four 
young  meuj  and  the  wife  of  one  of  them,  receiving  instruction 
preparatory  to  a  removal  to  Africa.  Three  of  these  young  men 
Bishop  Brownell  intends  to  ordain.  One  is  not  expected  to  have 
all  the  qualifications  requisite  to  a  clergyman,  but  is  to  go  out  as 
catechist  and  schoolmaster.  The  woman,  it  is  hoped,  will  make 
a  good  schoolmistress.  That  school  is  ready  to  receive  other 
pupils  of  piety  and  promise,  who,  like  those  already  there,  will 
be  taught  by  a  suitable  instructor  in  secular  learning,  and  by 
Bishop  Brownell  and  Mr.  Wheaton  in  theology.  The  bishop  al- 
lows them  to  hold  a  weekly  religious  meeting  for  colored  persons, 
and  to  exercise  themselves  in  extemporaneous  preaching.         rj.Sj 

"  '  But  what  are  these  among  so  many  V  If  the  wants  of 
Africa  received  the  sympathy  and  commiseration  to  which  they 
are  entitled,  a  large  seminary,  with  a  special  view  to  their  sup- 
ply, would  be  at  once  established.  But  the  variety  of  other  calls, 
the  distance  of  the  object,  the  supposed  difficulty  of  obtaining 
well-disposed  pupils  having  a  view  to  emigration  to  that  country, 
the  prevalent  denominational  distinctions,  and  the  monies  re- 
quired to  accomplish  any  thing  on  an  extended  scale,  all  seem  to 
be  barriers  in  the  way.  If  we  had,  I  will  not  say  a  Wilberforce, 
but  an  Anthony  Benezet  among  us,  who  would  arouse  public 
attention  to  this  interesting  object,  something  perhaps  might  be 
done.  But  talents,  exertion,  and  what  must  be  their  associate 
influence,  are  required ;  and  our  young  friend,  with  all  his  zeal 
and  abilities,  could  effect  nothing  until  some  master-spirit  should 
arise  among  the  class  of  more  advanced  Christians,  whose  hold 
upon  the  public  mind  would  enable  him  to  rally  in  his  cause  not 
only  those  who  wish  well  to  Africa,  but  also  those  who  would 
prove  the  sincerity  of  their  feelings  by  liberal  contributions  to 
her  spiritual  relief.  Unhappily,  almost  all  our  colored  population 
in  this  city  are  opposed  to  colonization,  and  of  course  look  with 
jealousy  on  all  attempts  that  may  seem  to  favor  it ;  and  many  of 


HIS  MINISTRY.  297 

their  white  friends  partake  of  their  feelings.  The  result  of  the 
whole  is  an  entire  inability  on  my  part  to  suggest  any  thing  that 
would  assist  the  benevolent  aims  of  your  young  friend, 

"  I  wish  I  had  room  for  more  than  the  assurance  that  I  re- 
main* 

"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  letters  which  have  filled  so  many  pages  of  this  memoir, 
though  they  furnish  no  connected  view  of  the  incidents  in  the 
outer  life  of  Dr.  Milnor,  yet,  as  revelations  of  his  inner  life,  are 
peculiarly  valuable.  They  show  how  various  current  events  af- 
fected him ;  and  illustrate  the  position  in  which  he  was  provi- 
dentially placed  in  relation  to  his  own  church,  and  to  various 
religious  institutions  in  our  country.  Profoundly  actuated  by 
convictions  so  different  from  those  which  governed  the  majority 
of  Episcopalians,  particularly  in  the  diocese  to  which  he  be- 
longed, he  was,  for  many  years,  called  to  few  posts  of  action  and 
of  influence  among  them.  With  the  fewer  engrossing  cares, 
therefore,  was  he  left  to  devote  whatever  of  time  and  of  talent 
he  could  command  to  the  working  of  those  great  Christian  asso- 
ciations, with  which  our  country  was  beginning  to  abound,  which 
were  designed  to  embody  the  influence  of  all  truly  evangelical 
denominations,  and  of  which  both  his  judgment  and  his  heart 
constrained  him  to  approve.  Originally,  it  is  true,  he  engaged 
in  the  service  of  those  noble  institutions  because  he  loved  their 
spirit  and  their  objects,  without  stopping  to  inquire  whether  there 
were  not  other  channels  through  which  he  might  pour  the  re- 
sources of  his  influence  into  the  general  stream  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence. But  it  is  likewise  true,  that  the  mere  withholding 
of  his  cooperation  from  those  institutions  would  not  have  opened 
to  him,  as  substitutes,  any  important  places  of  trust  and  influ- 
ence in  his  own  church.  Under  a  system  of  ecclesiastical  tactics 
which  effectually  excluded  him,  those  places  were  always  care- 
fully, or  at  least  controUingly,  filled  by  others  of  very  different 
religious  views ;  and  never  would  have  been  opened  for  any  effec- 
tive exertion  of  his  influence,  save  on  an  abandonment  of  those 
Christian  principles  and  sympathies  which  he  cherished,  and  which 
constituted  an  indestructible  part  of  his  character  and  experience 


298  "  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

as  a  disciple  of  Christ.  Virtually,  therefore,  the  question  with 
him  was,  whether  he  would  throw  his  main  strength  into  such 
institutions  as  the  American  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  or  be 
content  with  those  narrow  limits  of  a  parish,  which  would  prac- 
tically shut  him  out  of  the  great  world  of  Christian  action  and 
movement.  Of  course,  such  a  question,  proposed  to  such  a  mind, 
could  not  remain  an  hour  undecided.  He  knew,  indeed,  that  his 
decision  would  expose  him  to  opposition;  he  knew  the  quarter 
from  which,  mainly,  that  opposition  would  come ;  and  he  knew 
that  it  would  be  an  opposition  all  the  more  formidable  because 
backed  by  the  forces  of  an  early  and  still  sincere  friendship. 
Yet  all  this  could  not  move  him  from  his  course.  Many,  now 
living,  know  well  the  peculiar  pain  which  it  gave  him  to  differ 
from  his  early  friend,  especially  when  appearing  in  the  later 
character  of  his  bishop.  Still,  he  felt  that,  so  long  as  he  walked 
with  scrupulous  care  according  to  all  the  prescriptions  of  his  own 
church>^he  had  a  Christian  man's  liberty  to  walk,  in  other  things, 
according  to  his  own  best  judgment  of  duty.  It  was,  doubtless, 
a  difficult  path  to  tread;  and  if,  while  following  it,  his  private 
correspondence  shows,  that  in  alluding  to  the  measures  of  his 
diocesan,  he  expressed  himself,  though  never  with  discourtesy, 
yet  sometimes  with  warmth,  it  must  be  ascribed  to  the  peculiar 
shaping  and  power  of  that  influence  in  which  early  friendship 
and  later  office  were  brought  to  bear  against  him.  For  it  must 
be  confessed,  that  if  any  thing  can  excite  a  Christian  to  speak 
with  an  earnestness  beyond  what  his  own  calmer  thoughts  would 
prompt,  it  is  that  influence  with  which  office  arms  itself,  when  it 
attempts,  through  the  tenderness  of  friendship,  to  enforce  what 
authority  may  not  enjoin,  or  to  prevent  what  authority  may  not 
forbid.  Precisely  this  sort  of  influence  was  Dr.  Milnor  repeat- 
edly compelled  to  encounter.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  a  matter 
of  wonder  if  his  letters  sometimes  show,  that  the  sensibilities  both 
of  the  Christian  and  of  the  friend  had  been  somewhat  disturbingly 
touched.  The  disturbance  was  always  momentary;  for  his  na- 
ture was  of  the  kindlier  sort,  that 

carries  anger  as  the  flint  bears  fire — 


Which,  much  enforced,  doth  show  a  hasty  spark,  '*' 

And  straight  is  cold  again."  -       -      i\'  jf..-*^"' 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND,  299 

PART   lY. 

c 
MISSION   TO  ENGLAND. 


SECTION   I. 

■  We  have  now  reached  the  period  at  which  Dr.  Milnor  was 
called  to  undertake  a  most  important  agency — ^that  of  delegate 
from  the  American  Bible  Society  and  other  religious  institutions 
in  this  country,  to  those  noble  kindred  associations  in  England, 
which  the  month  of  May  annually  brings  together  in  the  city  of 
London.  These  societies,  though  originating  in  different  lands, 
yet  have  the  same  parentage.  They  were  all  born  of  the  active 
benevolence  of  Protestant  Christianity.  The  same  spiritual  blood 
flows  in  all  their  veins.  No  wonder,  then,  that  they  desired  to 
know  one  another  face  to  face ;  and  it  is  much  to  the  credit  of 
the  American  sisterhood,  that  they  were  the  first  to  propose  and 
bring  about  the  meeting.  The  idea  of  sending  Dr.  Milnor  as  a 
delegate  from  the  American  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  had  for  some  time  been  entertained,  but  never  till  now 
could  those  who  conceived  the  idea  bring  it  into  realization. 
The  account  of  Dr.  Milnor's  visit  cannot  be  better  introduced 
than  by  an  extract  from  the  records  of  the  vestry  of  St.  George's, 
containing  their  assent  to  his  proposed  absence  from  his  parish. 
That  extract  is  as  follows  : 

"  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  George's  church, 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  held  in  the  vestry-room,  Feb.  20,  1830, 

"  The  rector  stated  to  the  vestry,  that  since  his  application, 
several  years  ago,  for  leave  of  absence  for  the  purpose  of  visiting 
England,  when  the  vestry  were  kind  enough  to  grant  permission 
for  that  purpose,  although  circumstances  prevented  his  availing 
himself  of  it,  he  has  been  frequently  and  much  importuned  by 
his  religious  friends  to  fulfil  what  was  then  expected  of  him  on 
behalf  of  the  American  Bible  Society  and  other  institutions  of 


300  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

our  country,  with  which  he  has  been  long  officially  connected ; 
that  at  this  time,  in  consequence  of  renewed  applications  of  the 
same  nature,  urged  upon  his  attention  by  many  powerful  consid- 
erations, his  mind  has  become  impressed  with  the ,  persuasion  of 
its  being  his  duty,  if  practicable,  to  attend  the  ensuing  anni- 
versary of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Church 
Missionary,  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily,  the  Tract,  and  other 
religious  societies  in  London,  in  the  month  of  May  next;  and 
while  in  England  to  avail  himself  of  whatever  means  may  be 
presented  for  furthering  the  interests  of  institutions  of  a  similar 
kind  in  the  United  States;  and  that,  adding  to  these  views  a 
hmnble  hope,  with  the  help  of  God's  grace,  of  improving  by  the 
same  means  his  own  mind,  and  increasing  his  own  zeal  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  to  his  beloved  congregation  on  his  return, 
he  was  induced  to  solicit  of  the  vestry  leave  of  absence  for  the 
space  of  about  six  months.  It  was  therefore  unanimously 
•  >j^  ^^  Resolved,  That  although  the  vestry  cannot,  without  deep 
concern,  look  forward  to  so  long  a  separation  between  their 
pastor  and  his  congregation,  to  whom  he  is  so  faithful,  and  by 
whom  he  is  so  much  respected  and  beloved,  yet — convinced  that 
the  proposed  mission,  by  leading  to  a  more  friendly  and  intimate 
intercourse  between  the  eminent  and  useful  associations  in  this 
and  our  parent  country,  which  have  for  their  object  the  extension 
of  religious  knowledge,  and  by  collecting  much  useful  information 
as  to  the  state  of  religion  abroad,  and  the  means  of  propagating 
the  knowledge  and  influence  of  the  Gospel,  as  well  as  in  various 
other  ways,  may  promote  the  interests  and  advancement  of  the 
institutions  formed  here  for  such  purposes,  and  of  the  common 
cause  of  our  holy  religion — this  vestry  approves  of  the  design,  and 
consents  to  the  absence  of  the  rector  for  the  requisite  time;  ex- 
pressing their  satisfaction  at  being  thus  permitted,  in  their  en- 
deavors to  promote  such  interesting  objects,  to  contribute,  as 
they  trust,  to  his  personal  gratification,  by  adding  to  the  means 
of  extending  his  own  usefulness.  And  they  affectionately  com- 
mend him  to  the  care  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  and  pray 
that  he  may  enjoy  a  speedy  and  pleasant  voyage,  and  a  safe 
return.  >  ;  ' 

■     "Attested,  THOMAS  BLOODGOOD,  Clerk."*      • 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.'  301 

The  feelings  with  which  he  undertook  this  enterprise,  were 
characteristic  at  once  of  his  usual  modest  estimate  of  himself, 
of  his  pious  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  Master,  and  of  his  heart- 
felt interest  in  the  societies  which  he  was  to  represent.  Illustra- 
tive of  this  is  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  present 
writer. 

"New  York,  Feb.  20,  1830. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — You  will  be  surprised  to  learn, 
that  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  as  you  pass 
through  New  York,  and  still  more  so  when  you  know  the  cause. 
I  have  yielded  to  the  importunity  of  my  friends,  and  with  the 
unanimous  consent  of  my  vestry,  have  agreed  to  sail  for  England 
on  the  16th  of  the  ensuing  month.  Perhaps  it  might,  by  some, 
be  considered  affectation  in  me  to  say,  that  I  have  acceded  to 
this  measure  with  reluctance,  and  that  nothing  but  a  sense  of 
duty  would  have  led  me  to  consent  to  so  long  an  absence  from 
my  family  and  flock.  But  I  am  sure  you  will  believe  me  when 
I  say,  that  with  advanced  age,  much  of  the  curiosity  that  would 
have  made  such  a  proposal  delightful  in  my  earlier  years,  has 
subsided,  and  that,  besides  other  feelings  of  repugnance  to  cross- 
ing the  ocean,  a  conviction  of  my  incompetency  for  many  duties 
which  will  probably  be  consequent  on  my  arrival  in  England, 
has  oppressively  increased  it.  I  shall,  if  God  permit,  attend  the 
principal  anniversaries  in  London,  and  perhaps  may  be  called  to 
take  some  part  in  their  proceedings  ;  and  much  as  I  have  spoken 
in  public  in  my  own  land,  I  do  shrink  at  the  thought  of  doing  so 
before  such  assemblages  as  those  occasions  bring  together.  But 
if  God  enable  me  to  become  an  instrument  in  opening  a  more 
effectual  communication,  and  of  exciting  a  more  feeling  interest 
between  the  evangelical  clergy  of  England  and  those  of  this  coun- 
try, and  between  the  great  benevolent  institutions  there  and 
here,  it  will  be  no  imbittering  reflection,  during  the  residue  of  my 
brief  term  of  existence,  that  I  have  been  so  honored,  and  to  God 
shall  be  all  the  glory  and  the  praise.  Let  me  ask  of  you  your  ear- 
nest supplications  in  my  behalf,  for  divine  preservation  and  support 
in  the  enterprise  to  which  his  providence  appears  to  direct  me. 
"Your  faithful  and  sincere  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 


90d  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Although,  however,  his  appointment  as  delegate  from  the 
American  Bible  Society  and  its  kindred  associations  was  the 
prime  mover  of  the  enterprise,  yet  the  missionary  and  other  sooi 
eties  under  the  control  of  his  own  church  were  not  without  a 
share  in  his  attentions  abroad.  This  is  evident  from  the  follow- 
ing letter. 

"PHH.ADELPHIA,  Feb.  22,  1830. 

"  Rev.  and  very  dear  Brother — Our  mutual  friend  Mr.  Tb- 
botson  has  made  me  acquainted  with  his  urgent  endeavors  to 
enlist  you  in  an  undertaking  which,  for  more  than  a  year,  has 
been  very  near  my  heart.  Should  he  prevail  in  pleading  a  cause 
in  which  I  have  been  so  unsuccessful,  I  must,  even  if  I  go  pur- 
posely to  New  York,  have  an  interview  with  you  previous  to  your 
departure.  While,  however,  the  decision  is  pending,  I  trust  you 
will  not  consider  it  out  of  place  for  mo  to  run  over  with  you  a 
very  hasty  and  condensed  schedule  of  the  benefits  which  I  think 
cannot  fail  to  result  from  your  voyage. 

"1.  In  connection  with  the  Bible  and  Tract  causes,  *  the  lay 
of  the  land '  is  more  entirely  before  your  mind's  eye  than  that  of 
any  other  man. 

"2.  The  Sunday-school,  Bible-class,  and  infant-school  cause 
must  receive  benefit  by  an  interchange  of  minute  knowledge  of 
facts  and  details. 

"  3.  In  your  interviews  with  the  editors  of  the  Christian  Guar- 
dian and  the  Christian  Observer,  you  can  help  a  correct  impression 
of  the  true  state  of  '■revivals''  and  many  kindred  points,  besides 
opening  a  free  communication,  of  inconceivable  use  to  the  Recorder,* 
but  of  which  I  despair  if  left  to  mere  letter- writing.  They  feel  no 
deep  sympathy,  no  lively  concern  in  our  views,  with  regard  to  bring- 
ing the  evangelical  interests  of  the  two  countries  nearer  together. 

"  4.  You  could  do  much  for  dear  Bishop  Chase  and  the  noble 
work  at  Konyon  college. 

"5.  But  after  mentioning  of  how  great  use  you  might  be  to 
the  Recorder,  in  collecting  pamphlets,  tracts,  sermons,  oto.,  not 
accessible  in  this  country,  but  extracts  from  which  would  be 
delightful,  and  most  intluentially  useful,  I  must  hasten, 

•  Tlie  writer  of  this  letter  was  then  editor  of  "The  Episcopal  Recorder," 
a  paper  published  in  Philadelphia. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  303 

"  6.  To  the  main  thing — intimate,  thorough,  cjfFective  inter- 
views with  Mr.  Bickersteth  and  Daniel  Wilson  on  the  subject  of 
Missions.  Do  you  know  that  an  order  has  been  repeated  again 
and  again  to  our  secretary,  to  open  a  correspondence  with  all  the 
church  societies  for  missionary  objects  ?  It  must  be  done  through 
you,  if  you  go.  But  chiefly  for  our  own  sakes  must  we  know 
the  routine  of  business  at  the  Church  Missionary  Society's  house  ; 
its  cardinal  rules,  modes  of  dividing  labor,  keeping  books,  and 
conducting  correspondence ;  its  lessons  of  experience,  warnings, 
cautions,  etc.  "We  must  sometimes  get  at  fields  through  them, 
and  they  sometimes  through  us.  We  must  exchange  intelli- 
gence, and  interchange  laborers.  In  a  word,  as  much  of  the 
benefit  of  their  labor  as  we  can  get,  without  buying  the  like  wis- 
dom and  success  by  all  the  hard  cost  of  experience,  and  as  can 
be  brought  cheaply  across  the  Atlantic,  we  ought  to  have ;  and 
you  are  the  very  man,  from  your  large  acquaintance  with  the 
Bible  Society's  movements,  to  obtain  it.  Wo  want  all  manner 
of  missionary  documents,  files  of  reports,  and  series  of  publica- 
tions from  all  our  three  societies — from  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  from  the  General  Baptists,  and  from  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odists.    But  I  have  done. 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

"B.  B.  SMITH." 

"  p.  S.  I  had  just  closed  this,  when  yours  of  the  20th  came 
to  hand.  I  desire,  first  of  all,  to  bow  my  knee  in  unfeigned 
thankfulness  to  God,  that  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  him, 
in  relation  to  this  great  movement,  have  been  so  unexpectedly 
answered.  Next  I  must  say,  that  we  must  meet.  Should  your 
engagements  render  it  difficult  for  you  to  come  to  Philadelphia, 
I  will,  the  Lord  permitting,  visit  you  as  soon  as  brother  Robert- 
son's business  here  is  put  in  train  ;  say,  after  the  10th  of  March. 
By  the  way,  will  you  please  to  bear  in  mind  so  to  bring  the 
Greek  mission  before  your  people,  previous  to  your  departure, 
that  brother  Robertson  and  brother  Hill  may  work  to  advantage 
among  them  in  April  or  May  ?" 

For  the  information  of  the  general  reader,  it  may  be  stated, 
that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robertson  was  our  first  missionary  to  Greece ; 
and  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  became  early  his  associate. 


304  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

The  former  of  the  two  following  letters  gives  an  idea  of  the 
manner  in  which  Dr.  Milnor  continued  to  employ  himself  amid 
the  engrossing  cares  of  preparation  for  his  voyage ;  the  latter 
furnishes  one  of  the  many  instances  in  which  his  private  influ- 
ence was  blessed  to  the  good  of  others. 

■  /  "New  York,  Feb.  23d,  1830. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  called  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Publishing  Committee  of  the  American  Tract  Society  yesterday, 
for  the  purpose  of  considering  your  interesting  communication  on 
the  subject  of  the  progress  of  '  Catholicism.'  My  colleagues  and 
myself  concur  in  opinion,  that  the  time  has  arrived  when  some- 
thing must  be  done  to  check,  if  possible,  the  alarming  advances 
of  popery  in  this  country.  It  was  therefore  resolved  to  be  expe- 
dient to  issue  some  Tracts  of  the  character  which  you  describe ; 
and  that,  if  our  absent  members  concur  in  our  views,  measures 
be  immediately  taken  for  that  purpose.  You  will  be  made  ac- 
quainted, as  soon  as  possible,  with  the  final  determination  of  the 
Committee.  I  sincerely  hope  that  they  may  concur  in  entering 
on  the  defence  of  Protestantism  in  such  a  spirit  as  will  commend 
itself  to  the  approbation  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  and  to 
the  feelings  of  the  community. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  you,  that  permission  has 
been  given  me  to  visit  England,  and  that  I  shall  sail  by  the 
packet  of  the  16th  of  March.  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  men- 
tion this  to  brother  Johns.  Both  from  him  and  yourself  let  me 
have  fraternal  counsel  as  to  the  best  means  of  improving  my  op- 
portunities of  intercourse  with  our  dear  brethren  in  England  for 
the  benefit  of  evangelical  religion  in  our  own  country ;  and  if  in 
the  power  of  either  of  you,  please  favor  me  with  letters  to  clergy- 
men there.  Hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  remain, 
"  Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"  To  the  Rev.  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw,  Baltimore."  ^         ' 

The  other  letter  was  from  a  near  neighbor  in  New  York,  to 
whom  he  had  written  on  the  subject  to  which  it  refers ;  and 
whose  reply  doubtless  furnished  him  as  welcome  a  cheer  as  any 
that  greeted  him  on  the  eve  of  his  departure. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  305 

From  . 

"New  York,  March  15,  1830. 
"  Rev.  and  respected  Sir — I  received  the  letter  which  you 
did  me  the  favor  to  write  ;  and  I  thank  you  for  the  friendly  and 
affectionate  counsel  therein  contained. 

"  Believing,  as  I  do,  that  the  communication  will  give  you 
pleasure,  I  hasten  to  inform  you  that  I  was  last  night  brought  to 
the  determination  to  abandon  the  sale  of  distilled  liquors,  and  to 
cast  myself  and  family  on  the  good  providence  of  God ;  getting 
rid  of  the  enemy  in  the  best  way  I  can,  and  looking  to  Him  who 
alone  is  able  to  bless  me  in  this  my  humble  attempt  to  serve 
him. 

•  "  May  the  God  of  the  ocean,  whose  servant  you  are,  be  with 
yoti  on  the  sea  as  well  as  on  the  dry  land.  May  you  do  good  and 
get  good  among  the  people  whom  you  are  about  to  visit ;  and 
may  you  be  abundantly  prospered  in  the  object  of  your  mission, 
and  in  due  season  returned  to  Zion  here,  and  to  the  flock  of  your 
charge,  and  be  continued  to  both  a  rich  and  a  lasting  blessing. 
"  I  am,  reverend  and  respected  sir, 

"  Your  obliged  and  humble  servant. 


In  a  note  on  the  back  of  this  letter,  Dr.  William  H.  Milnor 
remarks,  "  I  remember  this  person  well.  He  had  frequent  in- 
terviews with  my  father  on  the  subject.  I  am  under  the  impres- 
sion that  he  was  himself  much  addicted  to  the  use  of  liquors. 
After  this  letter  he  was  a  regular  attendant  at  church,  and  be- 
came a  respectable  citizen." 

So  soon  as  it  was  publicly  known  that  Dr.  Milnor  was  going 
to  England  in  a  public  capacity,  and  for  purposes  of  business, 
commissions  of  various  kinds  flowed  in  upon  him  in  a  stream 
almost  literally  overwhelming.  A  more  striking  proof  could  not 
Well  have  been  given  of  the  high  estimate  in  which  he  was  held, 
and  of  the  thorough  confidence  which  he  enjoyed,  as  an  able  and 
faithful  Christian  man  of  business,  than  that  furnished  by  the 
number  and  variety  of  the  trusts  which  he  wa,s  urged  to  assume, 
and  of  the  commissions  which  he  was  called  to  execute.  He  had 
enough  to  load  a  minister  plenipotentiary  to  a  foreign  sovereign  ^, 
and  to  discharge  them  all,  seemed  to  require  the  assistance  of  a 

Hem.  Milnor.  20 


306  IfEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

secretary  of  legation.  And  yet  he  undertook  them  all  alone,  and 
discharged  them  all  alone.  By  his  uncommon  quickness  and 
skill  in  reducing  matters  of  business  to  system,  and  in  doing 
every  thing  in  its  proper  time,  place,  and  order,  he  left  nothing 
uncared  for,  and  few  if  any  trusts  undischarged.  Some  idea  of 
the  force  of  these  remarks  may  be  had  from  a  simple  enumera- 
tion of  the  formal  commissions  which  he  bore,  and  of  the  informal 
matters  of  business  with  which  he  was  intrusted. 

He  was  clothed,  then,  with  more  or  less  formal  commissions 
and  instructions  from  the  American  Bible  and  Tract  Societies, 
the  American  Sunday-school  Union,  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  the  American  Education  Soci- 
ety, the  American  Temperance  Society,  the  American  Seamen's 
Friend  Society,  the  Prison  Discipline  Society,  the  General  Union 
for  promoting  the  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath,  and  the 
Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church ;  all  of  which  operate  throughout  the  broad  bounds 
of  our  political  union,  while  some  of  them  aim  to  throw  their 
blessed  influence  over  all  the  earth.  Most  of  them,  likewise, 
accompanied  their  commissions  with  masses  of  documents,  re- 
ports, and  other  pamphlets,  for  his  examination  and  use  in  man- 
aging their  interests  abroad. 

Besides  these,  he  was  intrusted  with  informal,  though  im- 
portant business  commissions  from  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum, 
Bishop  Chase  and  Kenyon  College,  the  Savings-bank  in  New 
York,  and  the  patrons  of  the  Episcopal  Recorder,  Philadelphia  ; 
while  private  commissions  also  were  numerous,  and  involved, 
some  of  them,  no  small  amount  of  attention  to  business  details, 
and  to  topics  for  inquiry.  Thus  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  subse- 
quently appointed  modern  historiographer  to  our  American  Epis- 
cdpal  church,  commissioned  him  to  procure  various  valuable 
documents  and  works  touching  the  early  history  of  our  church 
in  this  country,  which  were  to  be  found  by  searching  the  vast 
accumulations  in  the  archives  of  the  venerable  "  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  From  a  dear  friend 
in  the  ministry,  he  also  received  the  following  list  of  topics  for 
inquiry,  and  of  things  to  be  thought  of,  as  bearing  with  interest 
on  the  welfare  of  religion  and  of  the  Church  in  this  country. 


MISSION  TO  England:  ~     307 

"I.  Subjects  OF  INQUIRY. 

"1,  State  of  opinion  in  the  Church  of  England  rektive  to 
the  exclusive  claims  of  Episcopacy.  How  far  those  called  High- 
Church  generally  carry  their  views  ?  What  is  the  prevailing 
opinion  among  the  evangelical  clergy  ?  Whether  this  point  con- 
stitutes as  general  a  ground  of  division  among  them  as  it  does 
among  us  ?  And  how  far  the  evangelical  clergy  are  in  the  habit 
of  introducing  such  topics  into  the  pulpit  ? 

"  2.  The  precise  state  of  the  controversy  touching  baptismal 
regeneration.     What  ground  is  generally  held  on  the  two  sides  ? 

"  3,  The  proportion  of  evangelical  men  in  the  ministry  of  the 
English  church.  What  is  the  extent  of  Calvinistio  views  among 
them?  How  their  spirit,  preaching,  and  labors,  and  practical 
qualifications  generally,  compare  with  those  of  the  same  class  of 
clergy  among  us  ?  Into  what  different  classes  of  character,  and 
in  what  proportion  those  not  evangelical  may  be  divided  ?  What 
intercourse  and  feeling  generally  subsists  between  the  two  divis- 
ions ?  How  the  bishops  stand  in  respect  to  them  ?  What  diffi- 
culties they  throw  in  the  way  of  evangelical  men  ?  And  what 
are  the  positiveness  and  decision  of  those  bishops  who  are  con- 
sidered evangelical  ? 

"  4.  The  extent  to  which  extemporaneous  preaching  and 
prayer  enter  into  the  services  of  the  English  evangelical  clergy. 
To  what  extent  do  they  unite  with  dissenters  in  general  soci- 
eties ? 

"  5.  State  of  opinion  in  the  English  church  with  regard  to 
foreign  missions.  How  far  does  it  resemble  that  among  us  as  to 
the  comparative  claims  of  domestic  and  foreign  ? 

"H.  Topics  TO  BE  THOUGHT  OF.  '■ 

"1.  The  possibility  of  inducing  young  evangelical  clergy,  on 
the  principle  of  taking  up  the  cross,  to  emigrate  to  this  country, 
and  enter  on  some  of  our  vacancies  and  desolations. 

"2.  The  practicability  of  producing  a  much  greater  reciproc- 
ity and  interchange  of  feeling  and  action  between  the  evangelical 
clergy  of  the  two  countries,  in  the  way  of  correspondence,  visita- 
tion, and  interchange  of  publications. 

"  3.  The  devising  of  some  plan  by  which,  every  year,  some 
one   should   be   delegated  from  England  to   represent  all  the 


808  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

principal  institutions  of  London  at  our  anniversaries,  and  vice 
versa. 

"  4.  The  interior  character,  throughout,  of  the  great  Church 
institutions  in  England — ^the  Christian  Knowledge  Society,  Soci- 
ety for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  the 
Church  Missionary  Society.  As  to  the  last,  inquire  into  its  sys- 
tem minutely,  how  they  collect  funds  and  get  missionaries,  and 
what  they  expect  in  a  foreign  missionary,  etc." 

Thus  abundantly  charged  with  matters  of  grave  public  im- 
port, and  already  known  in  the  best  religious  circles  of  Europe 
through  his  long  connection  with  our  great  benevolent  institu- 
tions. Dr.  Milnor  stood  in  little  need  of  letters  of  introduction,  or 
of  "epistles  of  commendation ;"  yet,  with  such  he  was  most  am- 
ply furnished  from  the  best  sources  at  home  to  many  of  the  best 
characters  in  the  Christian  community  of  Great  Britain  and  of 
the  continent,  assuring  him  of  a  cordial  reception  from  all  the 
great  and  choice  Christian  spirits  in  those  noble  lands  of  zeal, 
benevolence,  and  enterprise  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 

But  besides  all  these,  the  letters  which  poured  in  upon  him 
from  all  quarters,  expressive  of  warm  affection  for  himself,  of 
devout  aspiration  for  his  welfare,  and  of  a  high  appreciation  of 
the  importance  of  his  mission,  were  numerous  and  gratifying. 
Those  in  particular  from  Bishops  Griswold,  Chase,  and  Meade, 
were  characteristic  of  those  characteristically  different  men  of 
God,  as  were  those  from  Dr.  Bedell,  the  Rev.  B.  B.  Smith,  and 
the  president  of  the  American  Tract  Society.  It  would  add  to 
the  interest  of  this  work,  if  all  those  letters  could  be  given  at 
length,  consistently  with  the  limits  assigned.  A  few  paragraphs, 
however,  will  sufficiently  indicate  their  character. 

"Had  it  been  in  my  power,"  writes  Dr.,  Bedell,  "I  should 
have  made  a  journey  to  New  York  on  purpose  to  express  my 
pleasure,  and  to  bid  you  farewell ;  but  duties,  and  roads,  and 
imperfect  health,  all  combined  to  forbid  me.  I  wish,  indeed, 
that  I  could  even  go  with  you  to  England,  just  to  enjoy  one  such 
feast  as  that  which  must  be  spread  out  before  the  spiritual  appe- 
tite during  the  month  of  May  in  the  British  metropolis." 

"  My  visit  to  New  York,"  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  alluding 
to  his  promised  journey  from  Philadelphia,  subsequently  per- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  309 

formed,  "  has  brought  down  the  wrath  of  him  who  is  behind  the 
curtains  there,  upon  the  Philadelphia  Recorder,  in  a  most  faith- 
ful and  pungent  admonition  through  one  of  the  daily  papers, 
warning  Episcopalians  not  to  give  it  their  patronage.  Dear,  dear 
brother,  how  much  better  is  that  spirit  which  has  followed,  and 
is  following  you  in  almost  numberless  prayers  from  Christians 
'  of  all  arms,'  that  where  you  go,  you  may  go  blessing  and  blessed ; 
and  when  you  return,  you  may  come  as  much  to  profit  as  to 
delight  us  all." 

"  While  earthly  kings,"  remarks  the  president  of  the  Tract 
Society,  "with  their  views  confined  to  things  of  time  and  sense, 
are  sending  their  ambassadors  from  one  nation  to  another,  you, 
sir,  are  about  to  occupy  a  more  important  station.  You  go  as  an 
ambassador  from  the  King  of  kings ;  and  when  the  transactions 
of  princes  shall  have  dwindled  into  insignificance,  your  mission, 
if  you  find  grace  to  be  faithful  in  its  discharge,  will  tell  on  the 
sacred  records  of  eternity." 

Thus  qualified,  accredited,  and  cheered,  Dr.  Milnor  took  his 
departure  from  New  York  on  the  promised  day,  March  16,  1830, 
in  the  packet-ship  Florida,  Capt.  Tinkham.  He  took  leave  of  his 
family  and  a  number  of  friends  at  the  parsonage,  about  9  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  and  on  proceeding  to  the  steamer  which  was  to  convey 
him  to  the  Quarantine  ground,  whither  the  day  before  the  ship 
had  dropped  down,  he  met  a  much  larger  number,  both  of  parish- 
ioners and  of  other  Christian  friends,  who  had  assembled  there 
to  bid  him  farewell.  Some  of  them  "accompanied  him  to  the 
ship,"  and  there,  with  every  expression  of  Christian  kindness, 
bade  him  adieu.  By  half  past  four,  he  was  at  sea ;  and  before 
the  pilot,  on  his  return  to  the  harbor,  was  out  of  sight,  he  had 
entered  systematically  on  the  business  of  his  mission.  In  a  brief 
note  which  he  sent  by  the  pilot  tp  his  wife,  he  says,  "  I  have  be- 
gun my  journal,  and  if  preserved  from  sea-sickness,  intend  to 
keep  it  regularly."  Of  his  companions  on  the  voyage,  he  thus 
speaks:  "My  fellow-passengers  are  only  five — Mr.  Evan  W, 
ThomaSj  a  member  of  the  society  of  Friends  in  Baltimore ;  his 
nephew,  Mr.  E.  Thomas;  his  grand-nephew,  Mr.  Weatherhead ; 
Captain  O'Connor,  of  the  British  army  ;  and  a  young  mS,n  of  the 
name  of  Ken  worthy.     If  I  may  not  expect  entire  congeniality  of 


310  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

feeling  in  my  companions  on  religious  subjects,  I  hope  to  find 
nothing  positively  offensive." 

A  few  short  extracts  from  his  diary  will  show  how  his  time 
during  the  voyage  was  spent.  From  two  of  his  fellow-passengers, 
the  elder  Mr.  Thomas,  and  Captain  O'Connor,  he  derived  both 
profit  and  pleasure  ;  as  the  following  notices  evince. 

"  In  the  elder  Mr.  Thomas  I  find  a  great  stock  of  information 
respecting  England,  Scotland,  Wales,  and  Ireland,  a  great  part  of 
which,  in  his  former  visits,  he  has  traversed  on  foot,  and  thus  had 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  many  things,  which  would  escape  the 
observation  of  a  traveller  in  the  stage-coach. 

"  Captain  O'Connor  has  spent  four  years  in  the  service  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  is  well  acquainted  with  most  of  the  islands, 
particularly  with  Trinidad,  where,  for  the  most  part,  he  was 
stationed.  He  describes  Trinidad  as  delightful  for  its  variegated 
scenery,  and  rich  productions.  He  is  a  scholar  of  the  Dublin 
University ;  and,  since  his  residence  in  the  West  Indies,  has 
directed  his  attention  very  much  to  the  study  of  ornithology  and 
entomology.  He  is  taking  home  with  him  some  beautiful  speci- 
mens of  West  India  birds,  especially  several  varieties  of  the 
humming-bird,  of  his  own  preservation." 

Again :  "I  am  glad  to  record,  that  though  I  find  it  difficult 
to  maintain  conversation  with  my  fellow-passengers  on  those 
topics  that  would  be  most  agreeable  to  me,  yet  their  behavior  is 
such  as  not  to  be  offensive,  and  the  conversation  of  several  of 
them  on  secular  subjects  by  no  means  uninstructive.  Captain 
O'Connor  surprised  me  by  stating  his  age  to  be  only  twenty- 
four.  He  is  temperate  in  his  habits,  and  free  from  the  too  com- 
mon fault  of  men  in  his  profession  of  employing  unbecoming 
expletives  in  conversation.  He  has  improved  his  leisure  by  much 
reading  and  conversation  ;  and  converses  with  that  freedom  and 
energy,  for  which  the  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle  are  wont  to  be 
distinguished." 

With  such  companions,  much  of  his  time  might  have  been 
spent  with  satisfaction  and  to  advantage  ;  but  he  had  other  en- 
gagements during  his  passage.  The  following  paragraph  shows 
what  he  had  to  accomplish,  as  a  man  of  business. 

"  I  propose,  now  that  my  health  will  admit  of  my  reading 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  311 

and  writing" — he  had  had  the  usual  experience  of  sea-sickness — 
"to  employ  myself  in  the  examination  of  various  documents  refer- 
ring to  my  mission,  and  in  making  such  notes  as  may  be  useful 
on  my  arrival  in  England." 

And  the  following  shows  what  he  delighted  to  do  as  a  Chris- 
tian man. 

"  Saturday,  March  20. — ^Rose  at  six  o'clock  this  morning  in 
health,  after  a  good  night's  rest.  I  trust  I  was  enabled  to  appro- 
priate those  lines  of  the  poet,  which  came  with  feeling  to  my 
mind  soon  after  I  awoke  : 

"  Arise,  my  soul,  with  rapture  rise, 

And,  filled  with  love  and  fear,  adore 
The  awful  Sovereign  of  the  skies, 

Whose  mercy  lends  thee  one  day  more. 
And  may  this  day,  indulgent  Power  ! 

Not  idly  pass,  nor  fruitless  be ;  >  ^.i 

^  But  may  each  swiftly  passing  hour 

Still  nearer  bring  my  soul  to  thee." 

"I  propose  to  let  no  day  pass  without  connecting  with  my 
devotional  duties  the  reading  and  meditating  upon  a  portion  of 
the  sacred  Scriptures.  Of  these  duties  I  do  not  contemplate 
noting  in  general  the  character  in  my  journal.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, it  may  be  expedient  to  do  so.  This  morning  I  commenced 
reading  St.  Paul's  epistle  to  the  Eomans.  In  contemplating  the 
awfully  wicked  character  of  the  heathen  of  his  day,  as  described 
in  the  first  chapter,  and  comparing  it  with  the  present  state  of 
most  of  the  unconverted  nations  of  the  earth,  we  are  at  once 
struck  with  their  similarity.  And  what  a  powerful  incentive 
does  the  melancholy  comparison  furnish  to  enlarged  efforts  on  the 
part  of  the  Christian  Church  for  their  conversion. 

"  Shall  we,  whose  souls  are  lighted 

With  wisdom  from  on  high — 
Shall  we,  to  men  benighted, 

The  lamp  of  life  deny? 
Salvation,  0  salvation ! 

The  joyful  sound  proclaim  j 
Till  earth's  remotest  nation 

Has  learned  Messiah's  name." 

He  was  accompanied  on  his  way,  by  the  usual  incidents  of  a 
voyage :  fierce  storms,  and  dead  calms ;   fair  winds,  and  head 


312  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

winds  ;  beautiful  scenes,  and  appalling  sublimities  ;  swift  sailing, 
and  sudden  perils.  The  first  and  last  Sabbaths  of  the  passage 
were  fine,  and  admitted  of  worship  and  preaching  aboard  ship ; 
but  the  two  intermediate  were  so  tempestuous  as  to  render  the 
enjoyment  of  those  privileges  impossible.  The  ship  reached  Liv- 
erpool the  14th  day  of  April. 


SECTION  II. 


In  our  notices  of  Dr.  Milnor's  visit  to  England,  we  shall  sim- 
ply follow  his  steps  by  giving  the  most  important  passages  from 
his  own  journal,  and  from  a  few  of  the  letters  which  he  wrote 
to  his  family  and  friends  at  home. 

"  Before  we  reached  the  dock,"  he  observes,  "  a  gentleman 
came  off  in  a  boat,  offering  to  convey  me  to  the  pier,  and  bring- 
ing me  a  very  kind  letter  from  Mr.  Augustus  W.  Gillet,  of  Bir- 
mingham, requesting  me  to  accept  the  hospitalities  of  his  house 
on  my  way  to  London.  I  found,  on  the  wharf,  waiting  to  receive 
me,  my  friend  Mr.  Thomas  Sands,  who  gave  me  a  hearty  wel- 
come, and  insisted  on  conveying  me,  in  a  carriage  which  he  had 
ready,  to  his  house  in  Everton.  I  went  with  him ;  and  the  even- 
ing being  wet,  I  remained  till  the  following  morning  within 
doors.  Mr.  Sands  had  invited  two  pious  and  intelligent  friends 
to  spend  the  evening  and  sup  with  him.  After  a  month's  separa- 
tion from  my  religious  friends  in  New  York,  it  was  gratifying  to 
meet  with  kindred  spirits  immediately  on  my  arrival  in  England. 
Among  other  topics  of  conversation,  I  was  happy  in  the  opportu- 
nily  of  communicating  information  in  regard  to  the  progress  and 
success  of  temperance  societies  in  the  United  States." 

After  recording  some  brief  visits  which  he  made  the  next 
day,  he  has  the  following  note  on  a  curiosity  which  he  saw  in  a. 
Methodist  chapel,  through  the  politeness  of  Mr.  Cromy,  a  member 
of  that  persuasion.  The  chapel,  he  says,  "is  a  plain,  but  very 
neat,  and  commodious  building,  in  which  families  sit  together  in 
pews,  as  in  our  churches  ;  and  even  in  the  free  seats,  which  are 
slips  without  doors,  the  sexes  are  not  in  separate  sittings,  as  with 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  313 

the  society  in  America.  In  the  forenoon,  the  Liturgy  is  read 
from  the  desk.  In  the  vestry,  I  was  shown  a  curious  arm-chair, 
formed  of  a  part  of  the  trunk  of  an  oak-tree  by  Dr.  Clarke,  the 
celebrated  author  of  a  commentary  on  the  Bible.  It  is  wholly 
the  work  of  the  doctor's  own  hands  ;  his  pocket-knife  having 
been,  I  was  told,  the  only  instrument  used  in  giving  it  its  present 
finish.  It  is  in  one  piece  ;  and  the  knots  and  other  appendages 
of  the  tree  have  been  very  ingeniously  used  to  give  a  grotesque 
appearance  to  the  whole.  It  is  highly  varnished,  placed  on  roll- 
ers, and  comfortably  cushioned  ;  and  it  will  remain,  no  doubt,  a 
monument  of  the  doctor's  industry,  taste,  and  patience,  long  after 
he  has  gone  to  receive  the  reward  of  his  more  important  labors." 
"  Mr.  Cromy  had  been  one  of  the  principal  founders  and 
patrons  of  the  Liverpool  school  for  the  instruction  of  the  deaf 
and  dumb.  I  asked  his  opinion  as  to  the  advantage  of  teaching 
this  unfortunate  class  to  articulate.  He  was  decidedly  in  favor 
of  its  constituting  a  part  of  their  instruction.  I  stated,  as  ob- 
jections to  the  plan,  the  labor  and  difficulty  attending  it,  the 
limited  extent  to  which  it  can  be  carried,  and  the  imperfect,  dis- 
agreeable, guttural  enunciation,  painful  to  the  hearer  and  appar- 
ently so  to  the  speaker,  which  I  had  observed  in  our  country  in 
all  with  whom  the  experiment  had  been  tried ;  for  which  reasons, 
I  presumed,  it  had  not  formed  a  part  of  the  system  of  the  Abbes 
De  L'Epee  and  Sicard.  To  convince  me  that  our  failure  must 
have  been  owing  to  the  want  of  proper  instruction,  he  (proposed 
that  we  should  visit  a  family  of  his  acquaintance,  in  which  there 
were  a  young  gentleman  and  his  sister,  both  deaf  mutes,  the 
former  of  whom  had  learned  to  speak  in  a  manner  free  from  the 
objections  which  I  had  urged.  We  found  them  at  home  with 
their  mother,  a  lady  in  independent  circumstances ;  and  were 
favored  with  an  interview  of  some  length,  in  which  I  was  much 
gratified  by  the  talent  exhibited,  and  the  improvement  made  by 
them  in  various  branches  of  their  education.  Both  produced  a 
variety  of  drawings  and  paintings  copied  by  them,  and  beautiful 
specimens  of  ornamental  writing,  to  which  the  young  lady  added 
some  ingenious  work  in  worsted,  which  she  had  just  completed. 
The  latter  had  made  very  little  proficiency  in  speaking ;  and  the 
young  gentleman's  attempt,  instead  of  removing  my  objections, 


814  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  ,       ,^ 

was  caleulated  to  increase  them.  His  voice  was  so  weak,  arid 
his  articulation  so  indistinct,  that,  when  he  addressed  himself  to 
his  sisters,  I  could  distinguish  scarcely  a  single  word;  and  when 
he  addressed  himself  immediately  to  me  it  was  little  better.  He 
repeated  the  Lord's  prayer  in  a  tone  by  no  means  pleasant,  and 
in  an  articulation  far  from  distinct.  My  unfavorable  impressions 
in  regard  to  this  branch  of  instruction  were  rather  confirmed 
than  removed  by  this  instance  of  its  failure." 

His  "expected  engagements  in  London  obliging  him  to  hasten 
on  to  that  metropolis  without  delay,"  he  was  not  able  "to  wait 
upon  the  gentlemen  to  whom  he  had  letters  of  introduction "  in 
Liverpool,  "  or  to  see  more  than  the  exterior  of  the  public  build- 
ings" of  that  city.  "  One  of  those  gentlemen,  Adam  Hodgson, 
Esq.,  author  of  Letters  on  America,"  he  writes,  "  came  to  Mr. 
Sands'  counting-house  while  I  was  writing  letters  home,  having 
heard  of  my  arrival,  and  being  desirous  of  offering  me  the 
hospitalities  of  his  house.  Mr.  Crocker  also  called  on  me  and 
invited  me  to  his  father's.  A  letter  which  had  been  handed  me 
by  Dr.  Griscom  of  New  York,  to  the  venerable  William  Roscoe, 
Esq.,  who  lives  in  the  adjacent  village  of  Toxforth  Park,  I  trans- 
mitted to  him,  with  a  note  apologizing  for  not  waiting  personally 
upon  him." 

He  started  for  Birmingham  the  morning  of  Friday,  April 
16,  and  arrived  at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening.  For  the  first  ten 
miles  of  his  ride  he  was  entertained  by  "a  lady,  who  indulged 
her  communicative  disposition  in  giving  him  all  the  information 
about  her  own  affairs  and  about  Liverpool  which  she  could  com- 
prise in  an  incessant  flow  of  eloquence  for  one  hour ;"  and  during 
the  last  stage,  he  had  the  presence  rather  than  the  company  of 
"  another  of  almost  entire  taciturnity."  Through  all  the  inter- 
mediate stages,  he  remarks,  "  I  had  but  a  single  companion,  a 
Dr.  Squiers  of  Liverpool,  who,  with  his  father,  keeps  an  asylum 
for  the  insane.  He  was  on  his  way  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  to  visit 
a  patient,  who  would  probably  accompany  him  back  to  their 
asylum.  I  was  happy  in  having  the  company  of  this  intelligent 
gentleman ;  and  derived  from  him  much  information  on  the  de- 
partment of  medicine  to  which  his  attention  is  specially  devoted. 
He  stated,  that  in  a  great  majority  of  the  cases  which  had  fallen 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  315 

under  the  notice  of  his  father  and  himself,  the  cause  of  mania 
had  been  intemperance.''^ 

On  reaching  Birmingham,  he  adds,  "  I  found  Mr.  Gillet  wait- 
ing my  arrival,  with  a  carriage  to  take  me  to  his  house  at  Edge- 
baston,  a  pleasant  situation,  just  beyond  the  limits  of  Birming- 
ham. Mrs.  Grillet  was  deeply  affected  on  my  arrival ;  and  the 
eldest  of  her  little  boys,  who  had  been  much  attached  to  me  in 
New  York,  clung  to  me  and  cried  for  joy." 

"Mr.  Jaoot  and  his  wife,  whom  I  married  about  eighteen 
months  ago,  and  who  reside  in  Birmingham,  are  at  present  in 
London,  so  that  with  sorrow  I  shall  lose  the  opportunity  of  see- 
ing them.  After  talking  about  friends  and  affairs  in  New  York, 
and  conducting  family  worship,  I  retired  to  rest  about  11 
o'clock." 

On  Saturday,  the  17th  of  April,  he  received  a  call  and  an 
invitation  to  dinner  from  "  Mr.  Chance,  high-bailiff  of  Birming- 
ham;"  who  "brought  with  him  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mayer,  a  convert 
from  Judaism,  and  presbyter  in  the  established  church."  He 
was  also  favored  with  calls  from  "  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mosely,  rector  of 
St.  Martin's,  the  principal  parish  church  of  Birmingham,"  "  a 
single-hearted,  evangelical  minister  of  Christ ;"  and  from  "  the 
Rev.  William  Marsh,  minister  of  St.  Thomas',  a  new  Episcopal 
chapel  of  ease,  lately  erected,  and  already  overflowing  with  at- 
tendants." Mr.  Marsh's  "name  and  character  having  been  long 
known  to  him  as  those  of  an  active  cooperator  in  the  great  relig- 
ious institutions  of  the  day,"  they  "were  in  a  few  moments  as 
well  acquainted  as  if  they  had  been  companions  for  years." 

"  Before  dinner,"  he  remarks,  "  I  rode  to  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  James,  the  minister  of  a  large  independent  chapel,  to 
whom  I  had  a  letter  of  introduction.  He  received  me,  as  did  his 
lady,  in  the  most  friendly  manner  ;  and  supposing  that  I  intended 
to  spend  some  time  in  town,  urged  me  to  make  his  house  my 
home,  and  to  preach  for  him  to-morrow.  Of  course,  I  yf&.B 
obliged  to  decline  both  proposals,  though  I  felt  grateful  for  the 
kindness  by  which  they  were  dictated.  The  still  unrepealed  pro- 
hibition of  officiating  in  any  of  the  churches  of  the  establishment, 
which  shuts  all  American  ordained  Episcopal  clergymen  from 
the  pulpits  of  their  brethren  in  this  country,  is  not  at  all  credita- 


316  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ble  to  its  liberality ;  but  while  the  prohibition  subsists,  it  must 
be  acquiesced  in  as  law ;  and  the  measure  of  preaching  in  the 
dissenting  chapels  would,  in  my  case,  be  for  various  reasons  in- 
expedient. I  stated  those  reasons  to  Mr.  James,  arid  he  was  sat- 
isfied with  their  sufficiency. 

"  Mr.  Marsh  and  Mr.  Mayer  were  of  our  little  dinner-party  at 
the  high-bailiff's.  The  iafternoon  was  spent  in  edifying  conversa- 
tion on  various  subjects  connected  with  religion  and  the  Church ; 
and  all  the  company  united  in  condemnation  of  the  statutable 
exclusion  of  the  American  clergy  from  the  English  pulpits,  as 
unchristian  and  illiberal."  The  statute  in  question  has  been  so 
far  repealed,  that  any  Episcopal  clergyman  from  the  United 
States,  carrying  suitable  credentials  of  his  clerical  and  Christian 
-  character,  may  now  be  admitted  into  the  pulpits  of  the  English 
established  Church. 

"  In  the  course  of  our  conversation,  a  curious  fact  was  de- 
veloped in  relation  to  Dr.  Kewley,  my  predecessor  in  St.  George's. 
Mr.  Mayer  said  that  he  had  seen  him  in  Italy,  and  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  him.  He  passes  there  by  the  name  of  '  Father 
Kewley;'  but  Mr.  Mayer  says  he  knows  his  true  name  to  be 
Lawson,  and  that  he  has  a  brother  of  the  latter  name,  now  living 
in  Liverpool,  with  whom  also  he  is  acquainted.  He  has  no  doubt 
that  Dr.  Kewley  was  a  Jesuit  during  the  whole  time  of  his  resi- 
dence in  America." 

Sunday,  April  18,  he  spent  in  attending  St.  Thomas'  chapel, 
with  the  family  of  his  friend  Mr.  Gillet,  where  he  heard  the  Eev. 
'  Mr.  Marsh,  in  the  morning ;  the  parish  church  of  St.  Martin, 
where  he  heard  one  of  the  curates,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morgan,  in  the 
afternoon ;  and  the  independent  chapel,  where  he  heard  the  Rev. 
Mr.  James,  in  the  evening. 

The  parish  church  of  St.  Martin  includes  "the  whole  of  Bir- 
mingham, except  two  churches,  which  form  another  of  small  ex- 
tent." One  of  those  two  churches  was  under  the  rectorship  of 
•'  Mr.  Hodson,  Archdeacon  of  Litchfield."  Dr.  Milnor  remarks, 
"  With  the  exception  of  one  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Byrne,  now 
far  advanced  in  years,  there  were,  a  few  years  ago,  no  clergymen 
of  decidedly  evangelical  views  in  Birmingham.  At  present,  full 
one  half  of  the  whole  number  are  of  that  character."    , 


MISSION   TO   ENGLAND.  317 

* 
After  describing  the  interior  arrangements  of  the  new  St. 

Thomas'  chapel,  which  contained  a  large  number  of  well-filled 
free  seats,  he  adds,  "  The  new  churches  and  chapels,  built  under 
the  authority  of  Parliament,  and  in  part  out  of  a  public  appro- 
priation for  that  purpose,  are  all  constructed  on  the  plan  of  a 
large  gratuitous  accommodation  of  the  lower  classes ;  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  this  stands  recommended  alike  by  Christian 
benevolence  and  by  true  policy." 

He  speaks  in  terms  of  high  commendation  of  all  the  sermons 
which  he  heard  during  the  day  ;  especially  of  that  by  Mr.  James. 
He  calls  this,  "  One  of  the  finest  discourses  to  which  I  have  ever 
listened."  ' 

He  adds,  "  After  family  worship,  I  retired  to  rest  with,  I 
trust,  a  heart  full  of  gratitude  to  Grod,  for  enabling  me  to  spend, 
both  agreeably  and  profitably,  this  my  first  Sabbath  in  England." 

On  Monday,  April  19,  Dr.  Milnor  started  for  London,  intend- 
ing to  spend  one  day  in  Oxford ;  but  when  he  reached  that  city, 
he  found  that  so  short  a  time  would  give  him  but  little  acquaint- 
ance there ;  and  as,  with  the  exception  of  two  slight  showers, 
the  weather  was  fine,  he  determined  to  proceed  at  once  to  the 
metropolis.  Accordingly,  he  arrived  in  London  about  10  o'clock 
at  night,  and  took  lodgings  till  morning  at  "  The  White  Horse, 
Fetter  Lane." 


SECTION  III. 

"  Tuesday,  April  20,"  Dr.  Milnor  thus  continues  his  journal. 
"  It  has  rained,  more  or  less,  every  day  since  I  have  been  in  Eng- 
land. This  morning  the  showers  were  drenching.  I  therefore 
took  a  hackney-coach,  and  proceeded  to  the  Bible  Society's  house, 
Earl-street,  Blackfriars.  I  found  there  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brandram, 
the  principal  secretary,  who  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Jackson,  Mr. 
Tarn,  and  other  officers  of  the  Society,  and  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pink- 
erton,  whose  services  on  the  continent  have  been  so  important  to 
the  Bible  cause.  Mr.  Brandram  also  conducted  me  through  the 
whole  establishment,  in  which   there   are  now  not  less  than 


318  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

700,000  volumes  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  in  various  languages. 
The  house  is  in  a  narrow  street,  and  its  interior  aspect  is  rather 
gloomy  ;  but  blessed  be  God,  there  is  light  emitted  from  it  which 
will  one  day  enlighten  all,  as  it  has  already  enlightened  many  of 
the  dark  corners  of  the  earth.  Mr.  Brandram  detained  me  with 
the  expectation  of  introducing  me  to  Lord  Teignmouth,  the  pres- 
ident, who  was  to  be  there,  by  appointment,  to  make  some  ar- 
rangements for  the  approaching  anniversary  ;  but  exactly  at  the 
designated  hour,  a  servant  came  with  a  note  from  his  lordship, 
stating  that  the  unpleasantness  of  the  weather  and  the  state  of 
his  health  would  prevent  his  fulfilling  the  appointment. 

"  Mr.  Brandram  was  then  kind  enough  to  accompany  me  in 
search  of  lodgings,  which  I  determined  to  take  at  Radley's  Fam- 
ily Hotel,  New  Bridge-street,  Blackfriars.  It  is  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  Bible  Society's  house,  and  from  the  offices  of  sev- 
eral of  the  other  great  institutions  with  which  I  shall  have  busi- 
ness to  transact." 

The  latter  part  of  the  day  he  spent  in  rambling  across  Black- 
friars bridge,  and  through  the  Surrey  side  of  London  to  the  Asy- 
lum for  the  Blind,  containing  "  upwards  of  a  hundred  blind  per- 
sons, all  cheerfully  employed  in  various  occupations ;"  "  a  very 
laudable  institution,  well  deserving  of  imitation  in  the  United 
States." 

The  next  day  he  had  the  delightful  satisfaction  of  receiving 
a  letter  from  home,  and  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  a  New  York 
acquaintance,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frazer,  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
who  was  in  London  "  prosecuting  his  claim  by  inheritance  to  a 
Scottish  earldom."  He  adds,  "  At  Mr.  Frazer's  request,  I  ac- 
cormianied  him  in  a  walk  to  Lincoln's-Inn  Fields  and  Court. 
"We  went  into  a  court  where  Vice- Chancellor  Shadwell  was  sit- 
ting, and  listened  for  a  short  time  to  an  argument.  We  then, 
went  into  the  chancery,  where  Lord  Chancellor  Lyndhurst  was 
attending  to  an  argument  by  Sir  Charles  Wetherill.  The  speaker 
was  animated,  but  somewhat  singular  in  his  manner. 

/'  We  afterwards  had  a  long  stroll  through  various  streets  of 
this  immense  city,  taking  an  exterior  view  of  St.  Paul's,  Guild- 
hall, the  Post-office,  and  the  Bank  of  England,  and  in  admiring 
the  shops  in  Cheapside  and  Ludgate  Hill,  some  of  which  exceed 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  319 

in  splendor  any  thing  of  the  kind  that  I  had  seen  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic." 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  after  the  rambles  of  the  day,  he 
says,  "  You  may  well  suppose,  that  in  this  wilderness  of  houses, 
I  feel  myself  very  much  a  stranger,  and  if  I  did  not  anticipate  a 
change,  should  scarcely  be  able,  separated  from  all  I  hold  most 
dear  on  earth,  to  keep  up  my  spirits.  But  to-morrow  I  shall 
begin  to  deliver  my  letters  of  introduction,  and  I  trust  that,  ere 
long,  I  shall  have  some  with  whom  I  may  converse.  My  thoughts 
tend  continually  towards  home,  and  the  happiest  day  I  shall 
know,  if  Providence  permit  me  to  see  it,  will  be  that  in  which  I 
shall  rejoin  my  beloved  family  and  congregation." 

"  Thursday,  April  22. — Received  a  note  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brandram,  inviting  me  to  accompany  him  in  his  gig  to  the  anni- 
versary meeting  of  the  Bromley  and  Beckenham  Auxiliary  Church 
Missionary  Society.  On  account  of  my  desire  to  deliver  some  of 
my  letters  of  introduction  to-day,  I  waited  on  Mr.  Brandram,  and 
endeavored  to  excuse  myself;  but  he  was  urgent,  and  I  con- 
cluded to  acquiesce  in  his  wishes.  We  reached  the  village  of 
Bromley,  in  Kent,  about  12  o'clock,  where  I  was  introduced  to 
Mr.  Cater,  the  president  of  the  society,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bickersteth, 
one  of  the  principal  secretaries  of  the  parent  institution,  and  the 
committee  of  the  society. 

"  The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer,  and  a  concise  but 
appropriate  address  by  the  president.  Mr.  Long,  a  young  gentle- 
man of  large  landed  property  in  the  neighborhood,  made  the  first 
address.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Mr,  Bickersteth,  Mr. 
Wells,  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Orger,  a  lecturer  in  London,  and  principal  of  a  large  academy  in 
the  vicinity.  I  was  then  called  upon,  and  made  an  unpremedi- 
tated address,  which  was  received  with  far  more  flg-ttering  marks 
of  approbation  than  it  deserved.  The  meeting  was  also  addressed 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  HofF,  recently  a  missionary  to  India  resident  at 
Tinnevelly,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fenn,  lately  a  missionary  at  Travan- 
core  in  India,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brandram." 

After  giving  an  account  of  the  addresses  by  Mr.  Bickersteth 
and  the  two  missionaries,  and  of  an  exterior  survey  of  the  palace 
of  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  which  they  visited  after  the  close  of 


326  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  exercises,  Dr.  Milnor  thus  adverts  to  one  of  the  charitable 
institutions  of  the  place. 

"  I  was  also  shown,  at  Bromley,  an  establishment  for  the  sup- 
port of  forty  clergymen's  widows.  The  object  is  excellent,  but 
there  are  many  reasons  for  believing,  that  the  money  annually 
expended  in  this  way,  would  be  better  laid  out  in  annuities  to 
the  objects  of  the  charity,  leaving  their  places  of  residence  to 
their  own  option.  What  I  had  seen  of  an  institution  for  the  sup- 
port of  poor  widows  in  America,  convinced  me  of  the  inexpe- 
diency of  congregating  them  into  one  family;  and  on  inquiry,  I 
found  that  this  widows'  house  was  not  free  from  the  same  jeal- 
ousies, slanders,  and  strife,  which  I  knew  to  have  existed  in  the 
one  referred  to  at  home." 

"  In  the  evening,  Mr.  Brandram,  Mr.  Cater,  and  two  or  three 
other  gentlemen,  with  myself,  dined  by  invitation  at  the  seat  of 
Mr.  Inglis.  The  situation  is  beautiful,  the  mansion  spacious  and 
elegant,  the  furniture  in  the  first  fashion,  the  grounds  finely  im- 
proved, and  the  whole  establishment  excelled  by  few  in  the 
country.  It  may  be  supposed  that  the  entertainment  was  in 
correspondence  with  the  place.  It  was  indeed  far  too  sumptuous.. 
Mr.  Inglis  had  been  taken  ill  the  day  before,  and  was  unable 
either  to  attend  the  meeting,  or  to  join  us  at  dinner ;  but  his 
partner,  a  lady  of  very  affable  and  unassuming  manners,  mani- 
fested a  great  desire  for  the  happiness  of  his  guests,  which, 
besides  those  already  mentioned,  consisted  of  ten  ladies,  most  of 
whom  had  attended  the  meeting,  and  as  Mr.  Brandram  informed 
me,  were  decidedly  pious.  It  was  pleasant  to  find  the  conversa- 
tion taking  very  easily  a  religious  turn,  and  the  sentiments  of 
the  company  harmonizing  so  agreeably  on  the  several  subjectis 
which  were  introduced. 

"I  accompanied  Mr.  Brandram  to  his  house  at  Black  Heath, 
four  miles  from  Bromley,  where  I  lodged;  and  in  the  morning, 
after  breakfast,  and  my  conducting  family  devotions  in  reading, 
exposition,  and  prayer,  we  returned  to  London  in  the  "Black 
Heath  coach." 

"  Friday,  April  23. — ^Went  out  and  delivered  principally  such 
sealed  letters  as  I  had  brought  with  me  from  New  York."  "  Spent 
the  evening  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacot  of  Birmingham;  Mr.  Jacot 


MISSION   TO   ENGLAND.  321 

having  called  at  my  lodgings  in  the  course  of  the  day,  requesting 
me  to  do  so.  I  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  communicating  to 
Mrs.  Jacot  the  circumstances  attending  the  illness  and  death  of 
her  sister,  Mrs  Kissam,  shortly  before  I  left  home;  as  she  had 
not  seen  any  one  so  particularly  acquainted  with  them  as  my- 
self. Mrs.  Jacot  had  been  almost  inconsolable  for  her  loss ;  and 
her  husband  had  been  with  her  to  the  continent  under  the  hope 
of  assuaging  her  grief.  My  account  of  j;he  tranquillity  and  res- 
ignation of  Mrs.  Kissam's  last  moments,  and  of  the  hope  which 
she  indulged  of  acceptance  through  the  Redeemer,  seemed  to 
impart  more  consolation  tjian  she  had  hitherto  felt." 

"Saturday,  April  24. — I  was  employed  till  eleven  o'clock 
this  morning  in  business  connected  with  the  objects  of  my  visit 
to  England. 

"At  that  hour,  I  for  the  first  time  mounted  the  top  of  a  coach,- 
and  proceeded  to  visit  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Parker,  at  Woolwich."  They 
were  formerly  stationed  at  Quebec,  and  Dr.  Milnor  had  formed 
a  friendly  acquaintance  with  them  at  New  York. 

"On  our  arrival  at  "Woolwich,  we  received  a  hearty  welcom(! 
from  our  kind  friends.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  proposed  to  me  a 
walk  through  the  grounds  enclosed  within  the  barracks.  Some 
of  the  scenery  is  very  pleasing,  being  in  sight  of  the  Thames,  on 
which  a  great  number  of  vessels  are  constantly  moving,  and  the 
buildings  and  walls  being  so  disposed  as,  united  with  a  stream  of 
water  here  formed  into  a  lake,  to  give  a  fine  effect  to  the  whole 
landscape.  Within  this  enclosure  are  many  curious  things — ■ 
among  them,  -an  immense  gun,  taken  from  one  of  the  conquered 
nabobs  in  India;  the  hearse,  brought  from  St.  Helena,  on  which- 
Napoleon  was  conveyed  to  his  grave;  and  various  trophies  of 
victories  gained  over  the  French  in  the  last  war  of  Great  Britain 
with  that  country.  On  the  plain,  in  a  peculiarly  fine  situation, 
stands  the  marquee  under  which  the  Prince  Regent  gave  a  ban-, 
quet  to  Alexander,  Emperor  of  Russia,  the  Emperor  of  Austria, 
etc.,  when  on  their  visit  to  England.  It  was  removed  to  this 
place  from  the  grounds  in  the  rear, of  the  palace  of  St.  James', 
London,  where  the  entertainment  was  given;  and,  having  had 
its  sides  enclosed,  forms  a  large  and  beautiful  circular  room  for 
models  of  military  implements,  curious  armor,  etc.     There  was 

Mem.  Milnor.  2 1 


322  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

not  time  to  visit  half  the  curiosities  of  this  canvass-covered  room ; 
for  such  is  the  material  of  which  its  roof  is  composed.  This 
apparently  slight  structure  is  rendered  entirely  impervious  to  the 
rain,  and  beautifully  ornamented  within  by  ribs  of  heavy  gilded 
cord. 

"Mr.  Frazer,  who,  during  this  walk,  had  been  visiting  his 
relative,  joined  us  at  dinner^  at  five  o'clock ;  and  our  conversation 
about  friends  and  incidents  in  America  prolonged  our  interview, 
so  that  it  was  near  ten  at  night  when  I  reached  my  lodgings  in 
London.  On  my  return,  I  found  I  had  been  called  upon  by  the 
secretary  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  and  the  secretary 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Seamen  and  Soldiers'  Friend  Society ; 
who  had  severally  left  documents  of  their  respective  institutions. 

"  Sunday,  April  25. — This  morning,  when  I  awoke,  the  sun 
shone  brilliantly  into  my  chamber,  and  my  heart  was  at  once 
raised  to  my  heavenly  Protector  in  thanksgiving  for  the  sweet 
refreshment  which  I  felt  from  my  night's  repose,  and  for  his 
mercy  in  sparing  me  to  awake  in  health  to  the  light  of  my  sec- 
ond Sabbath  in  England,  and  my  first  in  this  great  city ;  with 
earnest  entreaty  that  I  may  be  enabled  suitably  to  improve  its 
privileges,  and  that  it  may  be  made  a  day  of  special  blessing  to 
my  dear  people  of  St.  George's. 

"  11,  A.  M. — Attended  the  church  of  St.  Mary-le-bow,  com- 
monly called  the  Bow  church,  Cheapside,  where  the  anniversary 
sermon  for  the  benefit  of  '  The  City  of  London  National  Schools,' 
was  preached  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Charles  James  Blomfield,  bishop 
of  London.  The  lord-mayor,  a  venerable-looking  old  gentleman, 
very  much  resembling  Col.  Fish,  of  New  York,  with  the  recorder, 
the  two  sheriffs,  etc.,  etc.,  attended  in  full  costume.  The  bishop 
is  a  pleasing,  but  not  very  forcible  preacher.  He  uses  no  action 
whatever,  but  his  enunciation  is  very  clear  and  correct,  his  man- 
ner solemn,  and  his  whole  delivery  without  the  least  ostentation. 
His  sermon  was  without  division,  destitute  of  all  figure,  plain, 
practical,  and  evangelical.  '  ' 

"  There  was  no  chanting,  and  no  Gloria  Patri  at  the  close  of 
the  metre  psalms.  Before  sermon,  the  bishop  used  the  custom — ■ 
now,  I  am  told,  rarely  practised — of  'bidding  to  prayer.'  '  He 
did  not  kneel,  but  standing,  said,  '  Let  us  pray  for  the  whole 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  323 

state  of  Christ's  Church  militant ;'  adding,  by  way  of  explanation, 
'  that  is,  for  the  whole  body  of  Christians  throughout  the  worlds 
And  so  he  proceeded  through  the  different  topics  of  supplication 
in  that  prayer,  adding  some  others  not  found  there,  especially 
for  the  national  schools.  His  bidding  was  not  in  the  very  words 
of  the  Prayer-book  ;  and  in  its  delivery,  he  either  spoke  extem- 
poraneously, or  recited  memoriter,  concluding  with  the  Lord's 
prayer.  In  the  prayer  after  sermon,  as  in  every  other  instance 
of  my  attending  service,  the  bishop,  in  the  clause,  Hhat  they 
may  bring  forth  in  us  the  fruit  of  good  living,'  substituted  for 
these  last  words,  'the  fruit  of  a  holy  and  religious  life.'* 

"In  the  afternoon,  I  went  to  St.  Stephen's,  Wallbrook,  and 
heard  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brandram  preach  in  this  beautiful  church  to 
a  congregation  of  not  more  than  a  hundred  persons  besides  Sun- 
day-school children.  A  principal  cause  of  this  smallness  of  the 
congregation,  is  the  situation  of  the  chuBoh  in  a  parish  filled  with 
merchants'  counting  and  ware  houses,  whose  residences  are  gen- 
erally in  the  country.  The  church  is  one  of  the  works  of  Sir 
Christopher  Wren,  and  is  said  to  be  his  masterpiece. 

"  At  half  past  6, 1  went  to  the  evening  services  of  the  church 
of  St.  Bride's,  Fleet-street,  another  of  the  works  of  the  same  ar- 
chitect. All  the  pews  and  aisles  were  filled  with  a  congregation 
attracted  by  the  preaching  of  the  evening  lecturer,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Denham,  a  young  man  of  great  piety  and  very  engaging  elocu- 
tion, who  was  appointed  to  the  office  by  the  present  bishop  of 
London.  His  lordship,  since  his  accession  to  the  see,  has  done 
essential  service  to  the  cause  of  evangelical  piety  in  the  city,  by 
bestowing  three  lectureships  upon  able,  spiritual  young  ministers. 
Mr.  Denham's  tones  and  cadences  are  very  pleasing ;  his  diction 
little  ornamented,  but  perspicuous  and  impressive ;  and  his 
thoughts  those  of  a  mind  apparently  holding  habitual  intercourse 
with  heaven.  More  energy  and  warmth  in  the  delivery  of  his 
sermons  would,  I  think,  be  looked  for  in  our  country,  in  order  to 
give  a  preacher  so  large  a  measure  of  popularity  as  Mr.  Denham 
here  enjoys. 

*  The  above  remarks  on  the  bishop  of  London's  mode  of  conducting  the 
services  of  the  English  church,  have  an  interest  to  the  intelligent  Episcopal 
theologian,  which  they  have  not  to  the  ordinary  reader. 


324  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"This  has  been  the  first  day  entirely  without  rain  since  my 
arrival  in  England." 

"Monday,  April  26. — ^Arose  before  5  o'clock.  An  old  drone 
of  a  watchman  is  crying  the  hour  under  my  window,  while  I  am 
shaving  by  the  light,  not  of  a  candle^  but  of  the  broad  day." 

"  Passed  a  portion  of  the  morning  in  reading  and  writing ; 
and  then  employed  myself  in  delivering  sealed  packages  and  let- 
ters committed  to  my  charge.  Was  able  this  morning  to  com- 
plete the  delivery  of  all  the  communications  brought  with  me  for 
public  institutions.  I  have  thought  it  best  to  withhold  a  great 
part  of  my  open  letters  of  introduction  to  gentlemen  in  London 
until  after  the  anniversaries. 

"  After  going  to  the  Port  of  Londbn  and  Bethel  Union  office, 
and  leaving  there  the  communication  from  the  American  Sea- 
men's Friend  Society,  I  attended  at  noon  the  stated  meeting  of 
the  committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  I  was 
introduced  by  Mr.  Brandram,  and  received  in  the  most  cordial 
and  affectionate  manner.  I  made  a  communication  of  the  objects 
of  my  mission  ;  my  credentials  were  then  read  ;  and  after  some 
remarks  from  Mr.  J.  Wilson,  chairman  pro  tem.,  expressive  of  the 
feelings  of  the  committee  at  this  mark  of  affection  and  respect 
from  the  American  society,  they  proceeded  to  the  reading  and 
consideration  of  their  annual  report. 

"I  remained  till  near  two  o'clock,  when  I  was  conducted  by 
my  friend  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Phillips,  so  advantageously  known  to 
the  congregation  of  St.  George's,  to  the  stated  meeting  of  the 
committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  in  Salisbury-square, 
by  whom  I  was  very  kindly  received.  With  this  committee,  who 
were  also  occupied  on  their  annual  report,  I  remained  until  the 
close  of  their  session. 

*'  At  5  o'clock,  I  dined  by  invitation,  with  Counsellor  Marriot, 
Q,ueen's-square,  Bloomsbury,  who  was  and  still  is  one  of  Bishop 
Chase's  warmest  English  friends,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
fund  raised  in  this  country  for  the  benefit  of  Kenyon  College, 
Ohio.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Heap,  vicar  of  Bradford,  the  Rev.  G-.  M. 
West,  Bishop  Chase's  chaplain,  and  myself,  were  the  only  per- 
sons at  dinner  besides  Mr.  Marriot's  family." 

"  Kenyon  College,  and  the  interests  of  religion  and  learning 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  325 

in  the  western  parts  of  the  United  States,  formed  prominent  sub- 
jects of  conversation.  Among  other  topics,  however,  Mr.  Harriot 
himself  introduced  that  of  temperance ;  with  the  measures  for 
promoting  which  important  object  he  was  considerably  acquaint- 
ed. He  thought  them  very  intimately  connected  with  the  well- 
being  of  society,  not  merely  through  the  moral  reformation  at 
which  they  immediately  aim,  but  through  the  increased  influence 
of  true  religion,  which  they  promote  by  the  removal  of  one  of  the 
principal  hinderances  to  its  advancement.  On  my  mentioning 
that  I  had  found  the  subject  in  some  instances,  since  my  arrival 
in  England,  rather  coldly  received  even  by  serious  people,  I  was 
pleased  to  learn  from  Mr.  Heap,  that  a  society  had  actually  been 
formed  in  his  neighborhood  at  Bradford,  under  encouraging  au- 
spices ;  and  that  already,  under  the  influence  of  its  proceedings, 
they  were  enabled  to  rejoice  in  the  apparent  reformation  of  sev- 
eral habitual  drunkards. 

"A  letter  had  been  handed  me  just  before  I  left  my  lodgings 
for  Mr.  Harriot's,  which,  by  his  permission,  I  retired  for  a  few 
moments  during  the  course  of  the  evening,  to  read.  It  proved  to 
be  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henshaw  of  Baltimore ;  and  gave  me  an 
account  of  a  sad  accident  which  had  befallen  Bishop  Chase,  by 
the  oversetting  of  the  stage,  in  which  he  was  returning  from 
Philadelphia  to  his  home  in  Ohio.  The  letter  states  his  collar- 
bone and  two  ribs  to  have  been  broken ;  but  that  his  physician 
did  not  think  his  life  in  danger.  We  had,  the  moment  before, 
been  speaking  of  the  bishop  and  his  plans,  and  commenting  on  a 
portrait  of  him,  which  hung  in  Mr.  Harriot's  dining-room.  It 
may  be  easily  imagined  how  affected  we  all  were  at  this  distress- 
ing intelligence." 

"  Tuesday,  April  27. — At  8  o'clock  this  morning,  I  attended 
by  invitation  the  weekly  meeting  of  the  committee  of  '  the  Re- 
ligious Tract  Society'  in  Paternoster-row,  and  breakfasted  with 
them.  At  the  request  of  the  chairman,  I  offered  prayer ;  after 
which  a  blessing  was  asked,  and  business  immediately  proceeded 
simultaneously  with  their  simple  meal,  consisting  of  a  cup  of 
black  tea  only,  with  bread  and  butter.  I  communicated  to  the 
committee  the  resolutions  of  the  American  Tract  Society  appoint- 
ing me  their  delegate  to  London  ;  and  made  a  short  address  on 


326  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  subject.  Nothing  could  be  more  satisfactory  than  the  man- 
ner in  which  these  were  received ;  or  more  kind  than  the  expres- 
sions of  the  chairman  and  of  several  of  the  members  of  this 
respectable  board. 

"  Certain  Grerman  tracts  were  then  considered,  and  the  opin- 
ion t)f  each  member  taken  with  regard  to  some  proposed  eras- 
ures. Some  interesting  letters  from  abroad  were  read;  after 
which,  the  committee  proceeded  to  the  reading  and  consideration 
of  their  annual  report. 

"  At  11  o'clock,  I  went,  to  St.  Bartholomew's  church,  near  the 
Exchange,  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  the  stated  weekly  lecture 
of  an  aged  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkinson,  who  has  preached 
this  Tuesday  morning  lecture  for  the  last  twenty-seven  years. 
He  is  a  man  of  small  stature,  of  very  venerable  appearance,  and 
near  eighty  years  of  age.  His  voice  is  rather  weak ;  but  the 
deep  silence  observed  by  a  crowded  congregation  during  the  de- 
livery of  his  sermon,  enabled  me,  though  seated  near  the  entrance 
of  the  church,  to  hear  him  distinctly.  He  read  his  text  from  a 
small  Bible,  and  without  spectacles;  and. preached  with  great 
vivacity  of  manner  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  entirely 
without  notes.  The  sermon  was  for  the  benefit  of  the  charity 
school  of  the  parish,  in  which  are  instructed  fifty  boys  and  thirty 
girls.  These  are  clothed,  and  furnished  with  books ;  taught  the 
elements  of  English,  with  needlework,  etc.,  to  the  girls;  and 
when  of  proper  age,  bound  apprentices  to  trades  or  to  service.  A 
handbill  stated  that  between  two  and  three  thousand  children 
had  received  the  benefit  of  this  charity.  The  pupils  sat  in  the 
capacious  chancel  of  the  church ;  were  very  clean,  and  neat,  and 
healthful  in  their  appearance  ;  and  sang  very  sweetly  an  appro- 
priate hymn." 

"  Mr.  Wilkinson  is  a  very  thorough-going  Calvinist.  He  is, 
I  am  told,  one  of  the  few  remaining  pupils  of  old  Mr.  Romaine, 
who,  in  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  was  said  to  be  the  only 
living  and  avowedly  Calvinistic  minister  in  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. It  would  seem  that  many  of  its  present  members  in  Lon- 
don do  not  disrelish  the  system  of  the  Genevan  reformer ;  for 
not  only  were  all  the  pews  of  St.  Bartholomew's  to-day  com- 
pletely filled,  but  the  aisles  also  were  crowded ;  and  I  understand 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  327 

this  is  constantly  the  case,  though  the  church  stands  in  the  very 
throng  of  business,  and  the  hours  of  service  are  those  of  its  great- 
est press.  The  occupants  of  the  pews  were  of  very  respectable 
appearance ;  those  in  the  aisles,  of  the  poorer  class ;  and  the 
whole  exhibited  the  aspect  of  great  seriousness  and  devotion. 

"At  the  close  of  the  service,  I  conversed  with  Mr.  Poynder, 
one  of  the  committee  of  the  Bible  Society,  and  an  eminent  solici- 
tor, who  told  me  that,  whenever  it  was  possible  for  him  to  leave 
his  business,  he  did  not  fail  to  be  one  of  Mr.  Wilkinson's  hearers 
at  this  lecture ;  and  that  he  always  found  himself  edified  and 
comforted  by  his  instructions. 

,1  .  "  Took  a  carriage  and  went  to  the  British  Museum,  having 
letters  to  the  secretary,  the  Rev.  T.  Hartwell  Home,  from  Bishop 
Hobart,  Dr.  Turner,  and  Mr.  Wheaton.  I  met  Mr.  Home  at  the 
Museum,  and  found  him  a  frank,  plain,  unaffected  man;  his 
manners  courteous  and  kind,  not  characterized  by  much  warmth 
of  feeling,  but  by  no  means  stiff  and  formal.  He  offered  to 
attend  me  through  the  numerous  apartments  of  this  great  estab- 
lishment ;  but  time  permitted  my  going  with  him  only  through 
the  rooms  containing  the  library..  The  noble  collection  pre- 
sented by  his  present  Majesty,  occupies  a  grand  room,  built  spe- 
cially for  its  reception,  three  hundred  feet  long,  and  superbly  fin- 
ished. The  whole  building  was  formerly  the  palace  of  the  Duke 
of  Montague,  and  is  of  great  extent,  independently  of  the  beau- 
tiful addition  just  mentioned.  On  taking  my  leave,  Mr.  Home 
invited  me  to  visit  the  Museum  as  often  as  possible,  where  I 
would  always  find  him  between  the  hours  of  ten  and  four." 

Having  received,  and  in  consequence  of  fatigue  and  engage- 
ments, declined  an  invitation  to  dine  with  "  Col.  Leblanc,  a 
pious  officer  at  Chelsea ;"  and  been  waited  on  "by  the  Rev. 
George  Morley  and  John  James,  two  of  the  secretaries  of  the 
Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,"  with  a  request  from  their  commit- 
tee that  he  would  make  one  of  the  addresses  at  their  anniversary 
on  the  Monday  following,  and  also  breakfast  with  the  committee 
at  the  Mission  house,  Hatton  Garden,  on  Friday ;  he  "  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  evening  in  making  some  preparation  for  his 
expected  engagements  next  week." 

Dr.  Milnor  spent  the  next  day  in  business  engagements  at  his 


328  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

lodgings,  and  at  the  Bible  Society's  house ;  in  visiting  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Charles  "Wilkes,  editor  of  the  Christian  Observer;  in 
dining  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  "WoodrufFe,  of  Cumberland  Terrace, 
Regent's  Park,  and  in  walking  the  whole  long  distance  back 
to  his  lodgings  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  When  he 
"  reached  his  lodgings,  he  found  a  ticket  of  admission  to  the  Port 
of  London  and  Bethel  Union  Society,  with  a  request  from  the 
committee  to  be  one  of  the  speakers"  at  their  anniversary.  In 
returning  from  Mr.  Wilkes'  he  witnessed  what  appears  to  have 
then  recently  arisen,  "  a  great  rivalry  between  the  old  coaches 
and  certain  newly  contrived,  oblong  carriages,  called  '  omnibuses,^ 
in  consequence  of  which  a  ride  of  four  miles  is  given  for  one- 
fourth  of  the  former  charge."  In  speaking  of  the  dinner-party  at 
Mr.  Woodruffe's,  he  characterizes  the  hostess  as  "  a  pious  woman 
of  fine  mind,"  who,  "  in  the  course  of  some  religious  discussion, 
displayed  much  acquaintance  with  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  an 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity."  He  adds, 
"  After  tea,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodruffe,  I  read  and 
expounded  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  prayed ;  the  servants  of  the 
lamily  being  first  called  into  the  dining-room."  This  mode  of 
closing  social  entertainments  presents  a  feature  in  the  highest 
religious  circles  of  England,  which  is  almost  as  common  as  it  is 
interesting.  Society  in  this  country  is  highly  imitative  of  that 
in  Europe,  but  unhappily  we  copy  its  worst,  more  frequently 
than  its  best  peculiarities. 

The  next  day,  also,  till  a  late  hour,  he  spent  in  business,  in 
his  own  room,  and  with  the  Bible,  Church  Missionary,  and 
Prayer-book  and  Homily  Societies.  On  his  return  from  these, 
he  "received  a  visit  from  Zachary  Macauley,  who  invited  him  to 
breakfast"  the  next  morning;  and  another  from  "Mr.  Ewbank, 
a  respectable  merchant  to  whom  he  had  letters  of  introduction," 
and  who  pressingly  urged  him  "to  make  his  home  with  the  fam- 
ily at  Peckham."     He  closes  his  note  for  the  day  by  saying, 

"  I  was  surprised  to-day  by  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  my 
dear  friend  and  brother,  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Mcllvaine,  of  Brooklyn, 
informing  me,  that  on  account  of  indisposition,  he  was  to  sail  for 
England  on  the  8th  of  the  present  month.  While  I  lament  the 
cause  that  brings  him  from  home,  I  shall  rejoice  to  have  with  me 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  329 

such  a  friend  and  coadjutor  in  my  mission,  and  such  a  companion 
in  my  travels.  I  shall  now  be  looking  for  him  daily.  The  Lord 
send  him  safely  to  my  embraces." 

FRroAY,  April  30. — His  engagement  to  breakfast  this  morn- 
ing at  the  Methodist  Missionary  House,  Hatton  Garden,  prevented 
his  accepting  Mr.  Macauley's  invitation  for  the  same  hour.  At 
Hatton  Garden  he  met  several  of  the  leading  men  of  the  Meth- 
odist church:  "the  Rev.  Mr.  Reece,  with  whom  he  became 
acquainted  during  the  visit  of  that  gentleman  to  America;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Townley,  president  of  the  conference  ;  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Newton,  of  Liverpool;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morley,  Mr.  "Watson,  and 
Mr.  James,  secretaries  of  the  Society,  and  several  other  of  their 
most  distinguished  ministers."  He  "  spent  nearly  two  hours 
very  agreeably  and  profitably  with  those  intelligent  and  pious 
men ;"  during  which,  after  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  by  one 
of  the  company,  and  prayer  by  himself,  "  an  interesting  conver- 
sation ensued,  in  which  many  inquiries  were  made  respecting 
the  state  of  religion  in  the  United  States,  especially  in  regard  to 
the  progress  of  Popery  and  of  Unitarianism,  of  which,"  he  adds, 
"  I  think  they  had  received  exaggerated  accounts." 
-'  After  breakfast,  he  "  attended  the  stated  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society.  Lord  Bexley  was 
to  have  presided,  but  he  sent  a  note  of  apology  for  necessary  ab- 
sence. The  committee,"  he  says,  "  received  me  with  great  re- 
spect and  kindness.  The  principal  business  transacted  was  the 
consideration  of  the  annual  report,  which  was  read  by  the  secre- 
tary, the  Rev.  Mr.  Pritchett.  But  there  was  some  conversation 
on  a  question  of  great  interest,  which  has  been  agitated,  and  I 
believe  is  not  yet  considered  as  finally  decided;  It  relates  to  an 
extension  of  the  publishing  operations  of  the  society  to  other 
religious  books  and  tracts  besides  the  Prayer-book  and  Homilies. 
Nineteen  out  of  twenty  of  the  contributors  to  the  funds  of  the 
society,  it  was  said,  were  warmly  in  favor  of  the  plan ;  but  the 
vice-patrons,  who  are  bishops  and  noblemen,  are  opposed  to  it, 
and  on  that  account,  it  will  probably  be,  for  the  present,  aban- 
doned. Mr.  Pritchett  introduced  me  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Raikes, 
examining  chaplain  to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  and  author  of  a 
volume  of  excellent  sermons.     He  then  proposed  to  go  with 


,330  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

me  to  Freemasons'  Hall,  where  the  Irish  Society  of  London  wer« 
holding  their  anniversary.  The  object  of  this  society  is,  the  edu- 
cation of  the  Irish  through  the  medium  of  their  own  language. 

"The  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry,  Dr.  Ryder,  was  in 
the  chair,  supported  by  the  Bishop  of  Chester  on  his  right  hand, 
and  by  Lord  Harrowby  on  his  left.  I  staid  until  I  had  heard 
two  long  and  impassioned  speeches  from  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Daly 
and  Bemish,  two  of  the  clergy  of  the  established  Church  in 
Ireland.  This  was  my  first  visit  to  Freemasons'  Hall,  where  a 
large  proportion  of  the  public  meetings  are  held.  It  is  a  hand- 
somely finished  room,  with  a  lofty  ceiling,  rather  dark,  however, 
and  in  capacity  of  accommodation,  I  should  suppose  not  superior 
to  the  assembly-room  in  the  City  Hotel,  New  York. 

"In  the  evening  I  went  to  Poultry  chapel,  Cheapside,to  hear 
an  anniversary  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Stewart  for  the  Hi- 
bernian Society  for  establishing  schools  and  circulating  the  holy 
Scriptures  in  Ireland.  The  society  supports  at  present  950  day- 
schools  and  400  Sunday-schools,  containing  together  upwards  of 
76,000  scholars,  at  an  expense  each  of  about  three  shillings  ster- 
ling per  annum.  It  distributed  last  year  22,966  Bibles  and 
Testaments ;  and,  since  its  institution  in  1806,  has  circulated 
230,000.  It  also  employed  67  persons  as  Scripture  readers.  With 
such  claims  to  public  patronage,  I  was  surprised  to  see  a  very 
thin  congregation.     The  amount  collected  was  probably  small." 

The  next  day,  Saturday,  May  1,  Dr.  Milnor  spent  in  sight- 
seeing; but,  as  he  indulged  sparingly  in  this  amusement,  and 
gave  but  slight  accounts  of  what  he  saw,  his  record  for  the  day 
maybe  omitted,  saving  its  concluding  paragraph:  "Spent  the 
evening  in  the  retirement  of  my  little  parlor,  in  duties  prepara- 
tory to  those  of  the  sanctuary  to-morrow."  His  engagements  on 
Sunday  likewise  may  be  very  briefly  sketched.  In  the  morning  he 
"  attended  Bridewell  chapel,  Blackfriars ;  a  neat  but  very  small 
and  unornamented  place  of  worship  connected  with  Bridewell 
hospital,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Budd,  a  well-esteemed  clergyman 
of  the  establishment,  and  author  of  a  work  on  baptism,  is  min- 
ister." In  the  afternoon,  he  "went  to  St.  Paul's  cathedral.  The 
evening  service  was  almost  entirely  chanted.  Even  the  prayers 
were  read  in  a  tone  resembling  recitative.     There  was  very  little 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  331 

solemnity  in  the  demeanor  of  the  performers,  and  some  positive 
levity  on  the  part  of  the  surplioed  boys.  The  congregation,  oc- 
cupying movable  seats  without  backs,  appeared  to  be  chiefly 
composed  of  persons  who  had  come  from  curiosity;  very  few  of 
them  being  provided  with  prayer-books,  or  appearing  to  take  any 
interest  in  the  service."  He  says,  "I  never  attended  the  duties 
of  public  worship  with  less  edification  or  comfort  than  in  this 
magnificent  temple."  In  the  evening  he  again  "  attended  service 
at  St.  Bride's,  Fleet-street,  where  Mr.  Denham  preached  to  an 
overflowing  congregation,"  on  the  subject  of  "the  sinner  justified 
by  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ."  "Mr.  Denham's  man- 
ner this  evening  was  singularly  interesting  and  affecting.  He 
commanded  the  most  silent  and  profound  attention  for  upwards 
of  an  hour." 


SECTION   IV. 

We  now  come  to  the  great  week  in  London,  the  week  of  the 
principal  anniversaries ;  and  will  give  a  condensed  outline  of  the 
engagements  which  it  brought  upon  Dr.  Milnor.  He  had  already 
attended  the  preparatory  meetings  of  the  committees  of  all  the 
leading  societies,  and  was  favorably  known  to  most  of  the  actors 
in  the  stirring  scenes  on  which  he  was  about  to  enter :  scenes  in 
which  are  brought  together  larger  and  denser  masses  of  Christian 
life,  where  is  felt  a  more  vitally  organized  and  intensely  beating 
heart  of  Christian  faith  and  feeling,  and  whence  are  sent  forth 
more  powerful  and  far-reaching  pulsations  of  Christian  benevo- 
lence and  activity,  than  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  within  the 
sphere  of  evangelical  operations. 

The  first  anniversary,  which  occurred,  Mbnday,  May  3,  was 
that  of  the  "Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  in  the  City  Road  chapel. 
"The  Rt.  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Mountcashel  presided.  As  I  went  to 
the  vestry-room,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "half  an  hour  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  exercises,  and  his  lordship  arrived  soon  after, 
I  was  introduced  to  him,  and  was  much  pleased  with  the  pious 
character  of  his  conversation.     He  was  plainly  dressed,  with  no 


332       ""  MEMOIR  OP  DR.  MILNOR. 

decoration  to  distinguish  him  from  a  commoner.  His  manner 
was  perfectly  friendly  and  familiar,  and  his  sentiments  those  of 
an  experimental  Christian.  In  the  course  of  the  conversation, 
he  spoke  of  a  motion  which  he  intended  to  bring  forward  to- 
morrow in  the  House  of  Lords,  of  which  he  had  given  notice,  for 
an  inquiry  into  the  income  of  the  bishops.  He  stated'  that  his 
object  was,  not  the  abduction  of  any  part  of  its  property  from 
the  Church,  but  the  ascertainment  of  the  actual  revenues  of  the 
bishops,  with  which  none  but  themselves  were  acquainted;  and, 
where  the  amount  was  unreasonably  large,  its  reduction  to  a 
more  moderate  but  still  generous  support;  the  surplus  to  be  ap- 
propriated to  the  increase  of  the  salaries  of  the  poorly  provided, 
hard-working  clergy..  He  seemed  not  to  expect  present  success, 
but  hoped  to  awaken  parliamentary  attention  to  the  subject,  and 
eventually  to  get  something  done.  He  expected  opposition  both 
from  the  bishops  and  from  the  radicals :  from  the  bishops,  because 
they  wanted  nothing  done,  and  from  the  radicals,  because  they 
wished  to  do  more  than  he  proposed." 

When  the  hour  for  fhe  exercises  arrived,  "the  honorable 
chairman  opened  the  meeting  with  an  address  of  a  very  catholic 
spirit,  and  evincive  of  a  mind  imbued  with  much  spiritual  feeling. 
His  manner  was  by  no  means  graceful,  and  his  utterance  very 
hesitating ;  yet  his  sentiments  were  so  entirely  consonant  with 
the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  the  whole  address  so  replete  with 
frank  and  unaffected  Christian  kindness,  that  it  was  followed  by 
a  universal  burst  of  applause." 

After  a  glowing  account  of  the  various  speeches  delivered  on 
the  occasion,  and  a  very  modest  allusion  to  his  own,  he  thus  con- 
cludes his  narrative  for  the  day : 

"  I  was  never  present  at  so  animated  a  public  meeting.  But 
the  cries  of  '  hear  him,  hear  him,'  the  clapping  of  hands,  and 
knocking  of  the  floor  with  umbrellas  and  canes,  within  a  place 
of  wt)rship,  sounded  rather  oddly  to  ears  unaccustomed  to  such 
expressions  of  feeling.  I  have  made  no  note  of  the  matter  of 
any  of  the  speeches ;  for  the  hurry  of  the  different  meetings, 
following  each  other  day  after  day  for  the  ensuing  fortnight,  will 
render  such  a  measure  entirely  impracticable. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  went  to  dine  with  Mr.  Has- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  "•  333 

lope,  treasurer  of  the  society,  at  Highbury  Lodg§,  Islington, 
where  I  met  Dr.  Townley,  Mr.  Hautrey,  Mr.  Reece,  Mr.  "Waugh, 
Mr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Hammit,  and  several  others,  with  the  large  fam- 
ily  of  our  host,  who  had  six  grown  up  daughters  at  the  table, 
with  the  husbands  of  two  of  them.  Mr.  Haslope's  residence  is 
in  the  most  beautiful  part  of  the  environs  of  London  which  I 
have  yet  seen.  His  lodge,  as  it  is  termed,  is  a  spacious  three- 
story  house,  of  four  rooms  on  a  floor,  situated  within  an  enclo- 
sure of  eight  or  ten  acres,  with  gardens,  lawns,  hot-house,  etc. 
The  arrangements  of  the  house  and  table,  and  the  dress  of  the 
females  of  the  family,  are  somewhat  beyond  the  style  common 
among  the  members  of  the  Methodist  society  in  America.  Mr. 
Hasl6pe,  however,  bears  an  excellent  religious  character,  and  his 
family  attend  in  part  the  established  Church,  having  accommo- 
dations in  the  parish  church  of  Islington,  of  which  that  distin- 
guished minister,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wilson,  is  vicar. 

"  Tuesday,  May  4. — Attended  the  anniversary  of  '  The  Church 
Missionary  Society,'  at  Freemasons'  Hall.  It  was  full  to  over- 
flowing :  and  the  assemblage  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  presented 
a  very  imposing  appearance.  The  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Gambler  in 
the  chair. 

V  "His  lordship  opened  the  meeting  with  a  short  address,  and 
then  read  from  the  Bible  one  of  the  psalms,  as  peculiarly  ex- 
pressive of  the  feelings  of  gratitude  which  should  now  animate 
every  heart.  Mr.  Bickersteth  followed  by  offering  a  prayer, 
copies  of  which  had  been  distributed  through  the  meeting." 

Various  resolutions  were,  as  usual,  offered  and  seconded ;  the 
speakers  being  the  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry;  Arch- 
deacon Hodson ;  the  Bishop  of  Winchester ;  Dr.  J.  B.  Sumner, 
Bishop  of  Chester ;  the  Hon.  M.  Buxton,  M.  P. ;  Mr.  Solicitor 
Poynder ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hartley,  a  missionary  in-  the  Mediterra- 
nean ;  Sir  George  Gray ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smiley,  from  Ireland ; 
the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Gerard  T.  Noel,  and  Dr.  Milnor  himself.  His 
own  speech  was  in  seconding  the  resolution  offered  by  the  Bishop 
of  Winchester.     The  following  is  his  allusion  to  it : 

"  I  was  honored  with  an  invitation  to  second  the  resolution. 
My  reception  was  unmeritedly  kind ;  and  though  I  so  far  trans- 
gressed as  to  extend  my  remarks  to  three-quarters  of  an  hour, 


834  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

yet  I  was  -constantly  encouraged  to  proceed ;  and  when  I  con- 
cluded with  an  apology  for  their  length,  it  was  answered  by  a 
cry,  '  No,  no,  not  too  long,'  and  an  alarming  volley  of  applause. 
I  received  it  as  a  strong  evidence  of  English  courtesy  towards 
a  Granger,  and  of  respect  towards  the  country  from  which  I 
came." 

At  the  close  of  this  day's  account,  he  remarks,  "  This  was  to 
me  a  very  interesting  meeting.  I  confess  I  liked  the  sober  dig- 
nity and  comparative  silence  by  which  it  was  characterized, 
better  than  the  more  violent  expression  of  feeling  witnessed 
yesterday." 

-'2 1  "We  may  judge  of  the  deep  interest  of  the  meeting  by  the 
feeling  which,  even  at  this  later  day,  arises  in  the  mind  at  the 
mention  of  the  great  fact  in  the  history  of  English  Missions, 
referred  to  in  the  following  paragraphs  of  Dr.  Milnor's  account : 
a  fact  then  for  the  first  time  proclaimed,  with  all  its  newly  thrill- 
ing power,  in  the  ear  of  Christian  England. 

The  Bishop  of  Chester  "was  followed  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Bux- 
ton, M.  P.,  a  large,  fine-looking  man,  of  commanding  eloquence. 
The  recent  abolition  of  the  Suttee,  or  burning  of  widows  in 
India,  formed  a  principal  topic  of  his  speech  ;  in  the  course  of 
which  he  paid  a  compliment  to  Mr.  Solicitor  Poynder,  as  a  chief 
instrument  in  effecting  that  humane  and  excellent  measure,  for 
which  the  labors  of  missionaries  had  previously  prepared  the  way. 
It  was,  he  said,  Mr.  Poynder's  persevering  and  able  exertions 
with  the  Board  of  Directors  (of  the  East  India  Company,)  that 
led  to  the  final  abolition  of  a  practice  so  abominable  as  to  have 
been  an  increasing  disgrace  to  the  government  which  allowed  it, 
every  day  that  its  existence  had  continued. 

"  As  soon  as  Mr.  Buxton  sat  down,  Mr.  Poynder  arose  for  the 
purpose,  he  said,  of  disclaiming  all  personal  merit  in  the  pleasing 
transaction  referred  to,  and  of  making  a  public  acknowledgment 
to  Almighty  God  for  the  support  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  in  the  dis- 
charge of  an  incumbent  duty  ;  and  he  called  upon  all  present  to^ 
give  glory  to  Grod  for  the  singular  and  unexpected  success  with 
which  that  discharge  of  duty  had  been  attended." 

After  the  exercises  of  the  day,  he  proceeded,  at  six  o'clock,  to 
dine  with  Mr.  Solicitor  Forster,  at  his  house,  Cumberland  Terrace, 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  335 

Regent's  Park,  where  he  lives  in  a  style  of  great  elegance.  Be- 
sides a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  relatives  of  Mr.  Porster, 
he  met  there  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cox,  author  of  several  religious  works ; 
the  Rev.  James  Haldane  Stewart,  minister  of  Percy  chapel,  and 
author  of  a  volume  of  discourses  on  the  advent  of  Christ,  which 
happened  to  have  been  the  last  book  read  by  Dr.  Milnor  before  he 
left  home  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sibthorpe,  who  had  recently  taken 
charge  of  a  church  at  Ryde,  on  the  Isle  of  Wight,"  ( more  notori- 
ous for  having  since  joined  and  again  renounced  the  church  of 
Rome; )  "  the  Rev.  Littleton  Powys,  brother  of  Lord  LyfFord ;  the 
Rev.  G.  W.  Phillips ;  Captain  Vernon,  son  of  the  Archbishop  of 
York ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodruffe,"  etc. 

"  The  evening,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "  was  passed  very  agreeably, 
the  conversation  being  entirely  of  a  religious  character,  and  the 
ladies  sustaining  their  part  in  it  in  a  way  alike  evincive  of  deep 
interest  in  the  various  topics  which  it  embraced,  and  of  much 
acquaintance  with  them.  I  like  exceedingly  the  practice  which 
I  find  prevalent  at  these  late  dinners,  of  the  gentlemen,  soon 
after  the  retirement  of  the  ladies,  leaving  the  dinner-table  for  the 
drawing-room ;  and  still  more,  that  of  closing  the  evening,  before 
the  separation  of  the  company,  by  religious  exercises.  On  this 
occasion,  the  servants  were  called  in,  when  a  hymn  was  supg,  a 
chapter  read  and  expounded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cox,  and  a  prayer 
offered  by  myself." 

We  reach  now  the  most  important  of  the  great  London  an- 
niversaries, to  attend  which  had  been  the  moving-spring  of  Dr. 
Milnor's  mission  to  England ;  we  therefore  give  his  account  of 
it  entire. 

"  Wednesday,  May  5. — This  day  was  held  the  anniversary  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  Freemasons'  Hall. 

"  No  ladies  are  admitted  at  this  meeting.  The  room  was 
exceedingly  crowded  with  gentlemen,  including  a  very  large  body 
of  clergy,  with  many  noblemen  and  persons  of  distinction  in 
society.  The  president.  Lord  Teignmouth,  was  prevented  by  in- 
disposition from  attending.  Lord  Bexley  occupied  his  place,  and 
opened  the  meeting  with  a  short  address,  in  which  he  felicitated 
the  meeting  on  the  continued  prosperity  of  this  great  institution, 
and  on  the  spiritual  blessings  which  it  was  shedding  on  the  world. 


336  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.       • 

"  The  Bishop  of  Winchester  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
after  an  abstract  of  it  had  been  read  by  the  secretary,  Mr.  Brand- 
ram.  He  spoke  about  ten  minutes,  and  was  followed  by  Lord 
Calthorpe  for  about  the  same  space  of  time. 

"  The  Bishop  of  Chester  moved  the  second  resolution.  His 
address  occupied  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  was  seconded  by  Mr. 
Wilberforce,  in  a  speech  of  great  interest,  delivered  with  as  much 
animation  as  his  wasted  frame  and  now  feeble  voice  would  admit. 

"  I  was  then  introduced  to  the  meeting  as  a  delegate  from  the 
American  Bible  Society,  and  was  received  with  greetings  of  a 
kind  that  almost  overpowered  me.  I  made  my  communication, 
however,  as  well  as  I  could,  in  an  address  of  thirty-five  minutes ; 
and  had  reason  to  be  very  grateful  for  the  affectionate  manner  in 
which  it  was  received,  and  for  the  many  kind  notices  of  the 
society  which  I  represented,  and  of  our  beloved  country,  which 
several  of  the  subsequent  speakers  took  occasion  to  introduce. 
The  prevalent  sentiment  seemed  to  be,  that  a  friendly  communi- 
cation and  harmonious  cooperation  between  the  great  national 
religious  institutions  of  the  two  countries,  besides  the  effect  upon 
their  immediate  objects,  would  have  a  most  salutary  influence  in 
preserving  that  friendship,  which  it  was  so  much  the  political  as 
well  as  the  moral  interest  of  both  to  preserve  and  cherish.      /isiir 

"  The  Hon.  Charles  Grant,  M.  P.,  whose  standing  in  the  na^ 
tional  legislature  is  of  the  highest  order,  and  wjiose  patronage  of 
religious  institutions  has  been  so  able  and  long  continued,  sec- 
onded the  motion  of  thanks  to  Lord  Teignmouth,  with  which  I 
had  been  charged.  He  is  a  charming  speaker,  and  merits  my 
grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  obliging  manner  in  which  he 
adverted  to  my  mission. 

"  The  Rev.  Daniel  "Wilson,  who  had  been  to  Paris  and  attend- 
ed the  anniversary  of  'the  Protestant  Bible  Society,'  gave  an 
account  of  the  meeting,  and  of  the  state  of  religion  in  France. 

"  The  Hon.  Charles  G.  Shore,  son  of  Lord  Teignmouth,  in  a 
short  address,  acknowledged  .the  society's  vote  of  thanks  to  his 
venerable  father.  vV'fi  o- 

'  "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Dixon,  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  minister  from 
Ireland,  next  addressed  the  meeting  in  a  speech  of  singular  vehe- 
mence of  manner  and  of  great  originality  and  point. 


MINISTRY   TO  ENGLAND.  337 

"  I  should  have  mentioned,  that  after  Mr.  Grant,  that  aged 
minister  of  Christ,  Rowland  Hill,  who,  if  he  has  been  noted  for 
singularity,  will  be  reruembered  and  respected  by  posterity  for 
his  long-continued  and  useful  services  to  religion,  made  what  he 
expected  would  be  his  last  speech  before  this  society.  It  partook 
of  the  peculiar  manner  by  which  his  public  communications  have 
been  distinguished,  and  was  received  with  great  applause. 

"The  treasurer,  Mr.  Thornton;  the  Dean  of  Salisbury;  Mr. 
Newman,  a  lay  gentleman  from  Ireland ;  and  Sir  Thomas  Bloom- 
field,  each  made  a  short  address.  The  motion  of  the  last  was  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  Lord  Bexley,  which  was  supported  by  an  address 
from  the  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry.  The  latter  had  been 
prevented  by  indisposition  from  coming  to  the  meeting  till  near 
its  close.  "With  scarcely  an  exception,  the  whole  audience  re- 
mained without  the  least  evidence  of  impatience,  until  it  broke 
up,  near  five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

"  Lord  Bexley,  in  acknowledging  the  vote  of  thanks  to  him- 
self, just  before  the  meeting  was  dismissed,  referred,  in  a  manner 
exceedingly  respectful  and  kind,  to  America,  to  its  Bible  Society, 
and  to  my  mission  and  address.  Immediately  afterwards,  he 
approached  me  with  eagerness,  seized  my  hand,  and  observing 
that  he  needed  no  introduction  for  my  address  had  made  us 
friends  already,  invited  me  to  dine  with  him  on  Wednesday  next. 
I  was  then  introduced  to  each  of  the  bishops  who  had  been 
speakers  on  the  occasion,  and  to  a  large  number  of  clergy  and 
laity  ;  and  amid  a  hundred  English  hands  stretched  out  to  greet 
me  as  a  visitor  to  their  country,  I  felt  deeply  thankful  for  the 
favor  which  the  cause  I  came  to  advocate  procured  me.  Never 
will  the  scenes  of  this  day  fade  from  my  memory.  *'./• 

"At  half  past  six,  dined  with  Mr.  Williams,  M.  P.  for  the 
county  of  Devonshire,  where  he  has  a  splendid  seat.  He  is  a 
banker,  and  his  town  residence  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  in 
Grosvenor-square,  and  the  most  richly  embellished  and  furnished 
of  any  house  which  I  have  entered  since  my  arrival  in  London. 
There  were  eight  liveried  servants  in  attendance  on  a  dinner- 
party, which  consisted  of  about  twenty,  one-half  at  least  ladies. 
In  this  respect,  I  observe  a  difference  between  New  York  and 
London ;  the  females,  on  such  an  occasion  as  this,  bearing  a  much 

Hem.  Hilnor.  22 


338  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

greater  proportion  to  the  gentlemen,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
Mr,  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  professors  of  religion  in  the  established 
Church  ;  and  Mrs.  "Williams  bears  the  character  of  a  deeply  spir- 
itual Christian,  to  whom  a  less  splendid  style  of  living  would  be 
far  more  agreeable.  Her  manners  are  very  courteous,  though 
unassuming,  and  wholly  free  from  all  fashionable  affectation ; 
and  the  company,  Mr.  Phillips  assured  me,  were  all  professedly 
pious.  The  only  clergymen  present,  besides  myself,  were  Mr. 
Phillips,  and  Mr.  Grimshawe,  author  of  the  life  of  the  lamented 
Legh  Richmond,  with  whom  I  had  previously  become  acquainted, 
and  whose  character  and  conversation  are  in  consonance  with  the 
spirit  which  pervades  his  interesting  memoir. 

The  conversation  at  dinner  slid  very  easily  into  a  religious 
channel,  and  was  agreeably  maintained  during  the  evening. 
Soon  after  the  ladies  had  retired  to  the  drawing-room,  we  were 
invited  to  follow  them,  and  found  there  some  accession  to  their 
number.  After  tea  and  coffee,  the  servants  placed  on  a  large 
circular  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room  a  Bible  and  a  number  of 
hymn-books,  sufficient  to  supply  the  company.  A  hymn  was 
then  sung,  accompanied  by  Miss  Williams  on  the  piano ;  after 
which  Mr.  Phillips  read  a  chapter,  expounded,  and  prayed.  This 
was  a  pleasant  sequel  to  the  enlivening  duties  of  the  day ;  and  if 
I  retired  under  some  fatigue  of  body  to  my  rest — the  walk  to  my 
lodgings  being  long — it  was  with  a  grateful  sense  of  the  kind- 
ness shown  me  by  the  friends  of  religion,  to  whose  acquaintance 
this  visit  to  England  has  already  introduced  me,  and  with  prayer 
for  God's  continued  support  in  the  duties  still  before  me. 

"  Mr.  Grimshawe's  walk  home  being  for  some  distance  coin- 
cident with  mine,  he  gave  me  an  account  of  Mrs.  Williams' 
change  of  views,  which  had  taken  place  under  his  ministry  in 
Devon,  and  had  resulted  in  her  becoming  a  very  decided  Chris- 
tian. The  style  of  living  which  the  family  arrangements  as^ 
sumed,  she  would  wish  altered ;  but  it  is  deemed  by  her  husband 
what  his  rank  and  circumstances  call  for,  and  she  acquiesces  in 
his  wishes.  On  his  part,  he  concurs  with  her  in  excluding  cardsj 
balls,  theatres,  etc.,  from  constituting  any  part  of  their  amuse- 
ments, and  in  selecting  for  their  chief  associates  those  who  are  of 
the  same  feelings  with  herself  on  the  subject  of  religion."- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  339 

I 

At  8  o'clock  on  Thursday  iiiorning,  Dr.  Milnor  attended  by- 
invitation  a  clerical  breakfast  in  Sackville-street,  in  one  of  the 
large  rooms  of  an  edifice  used  for  business  offices  by  several  of 
the  benevolent  societies.  Near  one  hundred  of  the  clergy  of  the 
established  Church  were  present,  besides  several  laymen  of  dis- 
tinction :  Lord  Mount  Sandford,  Sir  Thomas  Baring,  Col.  Phipps, 
Capt.  Gambler,  and  others.  The  breakfast  was  as  usual  a  plain 
meal,  and  was  followed  by  the  customary  religious  exercises,  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Wilson  presiding.  In  the  religious  exercises,  parts 
were  borne  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  of  Liverpool,  the  Rev.  Presi- 
dent, the  Dean  of  Salisbury,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bemish,  and  Dr.  Mil- 
nor. "At  the  conclusion  of  this  very  solemn  and  interesting 
service,  the  hour  had  arrived  for  the  assembling  of  two  anni- 
versary meetings  :  that  of  '  the  Religious  Tract  Society's  General 
Western  Meeting,'  at  Willis'  rooms.  King-street,  St.  James' ; 
and  that  of  '  the  Prayer-Book  and  Homily  Society,'  at  Freema- 
sons' Hall." 

By  appointment.  Dr.  Milnor  went  first  to  the  Tract  Society's 
anniversary,  where  the  Marquis  of  Cholmondeley  presided ;  and 
where  the  exercises  partook  of  the  customary  interest  of  the  occa- 
sion. In  an  address  of  five  and  twenty  minutes.  Dr.  Milnor 
"endeavored  to  comply  with  an  intimation  given  by  the  com- 
mittee of  this  society,  as  had  been  done  by  most  of  the  others, 
by  furnishing  all  the  information  in  his  power  as  to  the  opera.- 
tions,  and  their  results,  of  kindred  institutions  in  the  United 
States." 

"  Soon  after  I  sat  xiown,"  he  proceeds,  "  I  received  a  message 
from  the  committee  of  the  Prayer-Book  and  Homily  Society, 
urgently  requesting  my  attendance  at  Freemasons'  Hall.  Ac- 
cordingly, I  stepped  into  a  coach,  which  they  had  sent  for  me  ; 
and  on  my  arrival,  found  the  president,  Lord  Bexley,  in  the 
chair,  supported  by  the  Bishops  of  Chester  and  Winchester,  and 
several  pious  noblemen.  Several  speakers  had  addressed  the 
meeting  before  I  entered.  Captain  Gambler  and  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Wilson  spoke  immediately  afterwards. 

"I  was  then  called  up,  and  was  graciously  supported  in  an 
address,  in  a  great  degree  unpremeditated ;  wherein  I  dwelt  on 
the  value  of  the  liturgy  as  a  vehicle  of  devotion,  and  as  a  bulwark 


340  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

against  error ;  and  upon  the  homilies,  as  an  admirable  illustra- 
tion of  the  evangelical  doctrines  of  the  articles  of  our  church.  I 
noticed  also  the  attachment  of  the  American  Episcopal  church  to 
the  liturgy,  as  evinced  in  the  recent  general  disapprobation  of 
certain  alterations  which  had  been  proposed ;  while  at  the  same 
time  I  paid  the  respect  justly  due  to  the  motives  of  the  very 
distinguished  prelate  with  whom  those  proposed  alterations  origi- 
nated. The  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  pleased  to  express  himself 
very  kindly  towards  me  and  the  remarks  which  I  had  made ; 
and  supposing  my  address  to  have  been  written  and  committed 
to  memory,  he  afterwards  sent  me  a  message  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
B-aikes,  requesting  me  to  allow  of  its  separate  publication  in  a 
pamphlet  form,  which  I  very  respectfully  declined." 

This  reference  to  his  address  before  the  Prayer-Book  and 
Homily  Society  is  important,  as  we  shall  hereafter  see,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  unhappy  controversy,  to  which  the  report  of  his 
remarks  led,  between  Bishop  Hobart  and  himself. 

Dr.  Milnor  dined  to-day  with  Mr.  Bickersteth,  at  Islington, 
in  company  with  several  pious  and  literary  men :  Messrs.  Wood- 
rufFe  and  Coates,  secretaries  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society ; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt,  son  of  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt;  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Fawcett,  author  of  two  volumes  of  much-esteemed  sermons ; 
the  Rev.  Francis  Cunningham,  brother  to  the  author  of  the 
Velvet  Cushion,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jetter,  a  missionary  to  India, 
who  said  he  was  well  acquainted  with  Dr.  Milnor's  friend,  Mr. 
Newton  of  Massachusetts.  Of  his  host  and  some  of  the  guests 
on  this  occasion,  he  thus  writes  : 

"  Mr.  Bickersteth,  who  has  rendered  such  essential  service  to 
the  Church  Missionary  Society,  is  about  resigning  his  secretary- 
ship, having  accepted  the  rectorship  of  the  parish  of  Wotton,  in 
Hertfordshire.  He  is  one  of  the  most  excellent  of  men,  uniting 
respectable  talents  with  a  truly  Christian  spirit.  It  is  only 
necessary  to  know  him  in  order  to  admire  and  love  him.  Mr. 
Pratt  is  curate  to  his  father,  a  modest  and  unassuming  young 
man,  of  disposition  and  feeling  entirely  in  harmony  with  those 
of  his  estimable  parent.  Mr.  F.  Cunningham  is  a  man  of  talents, 
and  one  of  the  most  exemplary  ministers  of  the  establishment 
in  the  laborious  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  his  station.     He 


LI, 

Ol-"  THE 

MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  \     X       341 

is  among  those  whose  acquaintance  I  have  considered  on^ 
most  pleasing  gratifications  of  my  visit  to  London." 

On  Friday,  Dr.  Milnor's  engagements  were  at  another  clerical 
breakfast,  given  at  Freemasons'  Tavern,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hawtrey 
presiding ;  at  the  anniversary  of  "  The  London  Society  for  pro- 
mpting Christianity  among  the  Jews,"  Sir  Thomas  Baring  in 
the  chair ;  and  at  dinner  with  Mr.  Hatchard  the  bookseller,  at 
Clapham.  At  the  breakfast  he  became  acquainted  with  the 
author  of  "  The  Velvet  Cushion,"  the  Rev.  J.  "W.  Cunningham, 
Vicar  of  Harrow.  At  the  anniversary,  the  gallery  was  filled  with 
Jewish  children,  male  and  female,  who  were  supported  and  edu- 
cated by  the  society ;  while  the  speakers  were,  the  chairman ; 
the  "  venerable  Basil  Woodd,  upwards  of  seventy  years  of  age ; 
Sir  Robert  H.  Inglis,  the  treasurer ;  the  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and 
Coventry ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  of  Liverpool ;  "  the  aged  and 
excellent  Mr.  Simeon  of  Cambridge ;"  Mr.  Drummond  the 
banker,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander,  a  convert  from  Judaism, 
and  missionary  to  his  brethren,  (probably  the  late  lamented 
bishop  to  Jerusalem. )  And  at  dinner  the  company  was  composed 
of  the  Vicar  of  St.  Andrew's,  Plymouth,  an  "  amiable  and  pious 
son"  of  Mr.  Hatchard;  H.  V.  Tebbs,  Esq.,  an  intelligent  and 
truly  Christian  proctor  of  Doctors'  Commons,  and  Dr.  Milnor's 
friend  Mr:  John  K.  Gilliat,  besides  several  male  and  female  con- 
nections of  the  family.  The  evening  was  spent  and  closed  in 
the  usual  Christian  way ;  after  which  Dr.  Milnor  went  with  his 
friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilliat,  and  spent  the  night  at  their  house, 
about  a  mile  from  Clapham. 

How  delightful  must  it  have  been,  after  so  many  days  of 
incessant  and  intense  mental  excitement  amidst  the  crbwded 
throngs  of  the  city,  to  awake,  as  he  did,  on  the  morning  of  Sat- 
urday, May  8,  between  five  and  six  o'clock,  and  find  himself  in 
the  sweet,  still  country,  with  "the  weather  delightfully  balmy 
and  refreshing,  the  birds  gayly  carolling  their  matins,  and  the 
whole  landscape  covered  with  the  greenest  verdure  of  spring." 
"  I  took  a  walk,"  he  writes,  "  through  Mr.  Gilliat's  beautiful 
grounds ;  and  being  soon  joined  by  him,  our  conversation  took 
a  direction  in  consonance  with  the  evidences  of  divine  beneficence 
exhibited  in  the  charming  scene  before  us.     I  found  Mr.  Gilliat's 


342  MEMOIR  OF  DR    MILNOR. 

sentiments  on  spiritual  subjects  such  as,  under  the  "blessing  of 
God,  are  usually  produced  on  minds  having  the  advantage  of  so 
faithful  a  ministry  as  that  on  which  he  has  from  his  youth  attend- 
ed. Our  conversation  was  reluctantly  ended  by  the  announce- 
ment of  breakfast ;  before  which,  however,  I  read  and  commented 
on  one  of  the  Psalms,  and  prayed  with  the  assembled  family." 

Returning  to  the  city  after  breakfast,  he  learned  that  his 
friend  Mcllvaine  had  reached  London,  and  taken  lodgings  at  the 
same  hotel  with  himself  But  as  his  friend  was  out  on  a  morning 
walk,  and  as  he  was  himself  under  an  engagement  to  be  at 
Blaokheath,  six  miles  distant,  to  attend,  at  12  o'clock,  the  anni- 
versary of  the  Branch  Bible  Society  of  that  eastern  suburb,  he 
was  compelled  to  defer,  till  his  return,  a  meeting  with  one  so 
recently  from  home. 

At  the  Blackheath  anniversary.  Lord  Bexley  presided;  and 
after  the  reading  of  the  report,  "  addresses  were  delivered  by 
Charles  Dyer,  Esq.,  of  the  admiralty ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colly er,  a 
distinguished  dissenting  minister  of  Peckham ;  Dr.  Parker,  of 
Woolwich ;  the  venerable  Mr.  Symonds,  rector  of  Paul's- Cray, 
and  father-in-law  to  Dr.  Parker;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Haugh,  an  East 
Indian  missionary ;  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Chapman,  Bemish,  Hatph*- 
ard,"  and  Dr.  Milnor  himself  His  anxiety  to  see  his  friend 
Mcllvaine,  led  him  to  solicit  and  obtain  a  release  from  an  engage- 
ment to  spend  the  night  with  Dr.  Parker  at  Woolwich,  and  the 
Sabbath  following  with  Mr.  Symonds,  at  Paul's-Cray.  He  was 
therefore  soon  in  London  again,  rejoicing  in  the  safe  arrival  of 
his  friend,  and  in  the  "  many  letters  of  a  cheering  character  from 
family  and  friends"  which  he  had  brought  from  home ;  though 
grieved  to  find  the  health  of  that  friend  so  much  impaired  by  the 
complaint  which  induced  him  to  visit  England. 

"Sunday,  May  9. — My  breakfast  this  morning  was  taken 
with  increased  thankfulness,  being  enlivened  by  the  company  of 
my  beloved  brother,  who  is,  blessed  be  God,  better  in  health  than 
he  was  last  night.  After  breakfast,  we  united  in  rendering'praise 
to  God  for  his  goodness,  and  in  supplicating  his  continued  favor ; 
and  just  before  going  to  public  worship,  we  again  knelt  to  ask  a 
blessing  on  the  duties  of  the  day,  and  the  special  favor  of  Al- 
mighty God  upon  our  respective  families  and  congregations.'^^o 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  343 

They  attended  morning  service  at  St.  Stephen's,  Coleman- 
street,  and  heard  a  charity  sermon  by  Dr.  Ryder,  Bishop  of  Litch- 
field and  Coventry ;  and  evening  service  at  the  venerable  church 
of  St.  Ann's,  Blackfriars,  "  where  Mr.  Romaine  so  long  endured 
the  opprobrium  of  faithfully  and  ably  teaching  and  enforcing,  as 
the  sine  qua  non  of  a  right  belief  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ," 
that  very  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  which  formed  the  sub- 
ject of  this  afternoon's  discourse.  Dr.  Milnor  remarks,  in  his 
journal,  that  Mr.  Clemenson,  the  afternoon  lecturer,  "  prayed  ex- 
temporaneously both  before  and  after  sermon." 

At  night  they  walked  to  "  St.  Martin's-in-the-Fields" — ^the 
fields  having  now  become  a  wilderness  of  houses — where  they 
heard  an  excellent  discourse  fi*om  a  young  clergyman,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Harnage,  who  was  evening  lecturer  there  at  that  time.  And 
then  "  they  returned  home,  read  together  a  portion  of  the  word 
of  God,  prayed,  and  retired  to  rest." 

So  ended  with  Dr.  Milnor  the  first  and  great  week  of  the 
London  anniversaries  for  the  year  1830 ;  a  week  which  brought 
him  into  personal  and  profitable  acquaintance  with  many  of  the 
noblest  citizens  of  Christ's  true  kingdom  upon  earth,  and  set  the 
buds  of  many  a  holy  friendship,  which  will  be  blooming  and  fra- 
grant for  ever  amid  the  better  airs  of  that  kingdom  in  heaven. 


SECTION    V. 

During  the  week,  on  the  active  engagements  of  which  he 
now  entered,  he  attended  the  following  anniversaries :  that  of 
"  The  Port  of  London  and  Bethel  Union  Society,"  Monday,  May 
10,  at  the  London  Tavern,  Bishopsgate-street,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord 
Gambler  presiding ;  that  of  "The  Sunday-school  Union"  on 
Tuesday,  at  the  same  place,  George  Bennet,  Esq.,  in  the  chair ; 
that  of  "  The  Naval  and  Military  Bible  Society,"  the  same  day, 
at  Freemasons'  Hall,  Lord  Lorton  in  the  chair;  that  of  "The 
London  Missionary  Society"  on  Thursday,  at  the  City  Road 
chapel;  that  of  "The  Religious  Tract  Society"  on  Friday,  at 
the  London  Tavern,  Bishopsgate-street,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Erskine 
presiding;  that  of  "  The  Society  for  promoting  the  principles  of 


344  (  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  Reformation,"  the  same  day,  at  Freemasons'  Hall,  Lord  Vis- 
count Mandeville  in  the  chair ;  and  that  of  "  The  Anti-Slavery 
Society"  on  Saturday,  at  Freemasons'  Hall,  Mr.  Wilberforoe  in 
the  chair.  Dr.  Milnor  was  among  the  speakers  on  Monday,  be- 
fore the  Port  of  London  and  Bethel  Union ;  on  Tuesday,  before 
the  Sunday-school  Union ;  on  Thursday,  before  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society  ;  and  on  Friday,  before  the  Society  for  promoting 
the  principles  of  the  Reformation.  During  the  week,  he  also 
attended  public  breakfasts,  accompanied  by  religious  exercises, 
on  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Friday,  and  Saturday  ;  while  his  dinner 
engagements  were  with  Mr.  Purvis,  at  Nottingham  Place,  on 
Monday ;  Hon.  and  Rev.  B.  W.  Noel,  "Waltham-Stow,  on  Tues- 
day ;  Lord  Bexley,  at  his  city  residence,  on  "Wednesday ;  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  St.  James'  square,  on  Friday ;  and  Mr, 
Ewbank,  of  Peckham,  on  Saturday. 

It  is  needless  to  follow  him  closely  through  these  numerous 
engagements,  so  similar  to  those  already  noticed.  A  few  ex- 
tracts from  his  journal,  however,  may  furnish  an  interesting 
illustration  of  his  course  through  this  busy  week.  Alluding  to 
the  religious  exercises  with  which  he  was  called  to  close  the 
evening,  after  dinner  at  Mr.  Purvis',  he  says, 

"  This  manner  of  sanctifying  social  intercourse  is  both  pleas- 
ing and  profitable.  Although  I  would  always  prefer  being  a 
hearer,  yet  the  circumstance  of  my  being  a  stranger  often  de- 
volves on  me  the  duty  of  conducting  these  religious  exercises. 
My  prayer  is^  that  my  unstudied  and  unpretending  communica- 
tions may  be  accompanied  with  a  divine  blessing ;  so  that,  while 
unable  publicly  to  preach  the  Gospel,  I  may  be  an  instrument 
of  some  good  in  this  more  private  way." 

Of  the  anniversary  of  "the  Naval  and  Military  Bible  Society," 
he  writes,  "  This  was,  on  several  accounts,  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting Bible  Society  anniversaries  which  I  have  attended.  It  is 
a  much  older  institution  than  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety itself;  and  a  great  proportion  of  its  supporters  are  naval 
and  military  men. 

"  I  was  urgently  solicited  to  make  an  address  at  this  meet- 
ing ;  and  consented  to  do  so,  provided  my  friend  Mcllvaine  did 
not  previously  arrive.     In  case  of  his  seasonable  arrival,  I  had  a 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  34o 

particular  desire  to  devolve  the  duty  on  him,  from  the  circum- 
stance more  especially  of  his  having  held  a  professorship  and 
chaplaincy  at  the  military  academy  at  "West  Point.  I  was  happy 
both  in  his  arrival,  and  in  his  being  well  enough  to  speak.  In 
his  address,  he  gave  an  account,  as  far  as  was  suitable  for  the 
occasion,  of  the  work  of  grace  among  the  cadets  which  took 
place  under  his  ministry  at  West  Point ;  and  the  effect  of  his 
solemn  and  interesting  narrative  was  very  striking." 

The  Rev.  Baptist  W.  Noel  also  made  "a  most  eloquent  and 
spirit-stirring  address.  A  fine  effect  was  produced  by  so  power- 
ful a  speech  from  a  young  clergyman,  who  justly  enjoys  a  large 
portion  of  popular  favor,  and  possesses  talents  admirably  adapted 
to  such  a  duty,  Mr.  Noel  has  the  singular  felicity  of  having 
associated  with  him  in  Christian  feeling  four  brothers,  three  of 
whom  are  in  the  ministry,  and  the  fourth  an  officer  in  the  navy, 
who  made  one  of  the  previous  addresses." 

"  I  can  scarcely  conceive  of  a  more  interesting  spectacle  than 
that  of  so  large  a  body  of  gentlemen  of  the  army  and  navy,  asso- 
ciated with  so  much  zeal  in  the  benevolent  and  pious  work  of 
circulating  the  Bible  among  their  destitute  fellow-soldiers  and 
seamen.  An  unusual  spirit  of  evangelical  piety  distinguished 
their  addresses.  No  faintheartedness  or  equivocation  was  mani- 
fested in  the  avowal  of  their  religious  sentiments.  Several  ex- 
pressly adverted  to  affecting  circumstances  in  their  own  religious 
experience,  and  declared  their  firm  adherence  to  their  beloved 
Saviour,  and  their  determination,  through  evil  report  and  good 
report,  to  live  to  his  glory.  Every  speech  was  full  of  fervor  ;  and 
several,  alike  excellent  for  a  display  of  fine  talents,  and  a  mani- 
festation of  ardent  piety.  That  of  Lieut.  Rhind  was  character- 
ized by  a  flow  of  delightful  Christian  thought,  which  his  spirited 
delivery  sent  home  with  powerful  interest  to  every  heart." 

It  is  a  sign  of  the  importance  attached  to  the  army  and  navy 
in  Great  Britain,  that  at  this  anniversary,  "  notes  were  read 
from  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  and  from  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, apologizing  for  unavoidable  absence." 

Dr.  Milnor  and  his  brother  Mcllvaine  "  were  much  gratified 
with  their  visit"  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Noel  at  "his  charming  residence 
at  Waltham-Stow,  seven  miles  from  London,  where  they  dined 


34'6  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

and  spent  the  night"  of  Tuesday.  Mr  Noel's  church  in  London, 
"  St.  John's  chapel,  Bedford-row,"  is  the  place  where  the  cele- 
brated Cecil  and  the  present  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  Daniel  "Wilson, 
formerly  officiated.  Alluding  to  Mr.  Noel's  residence  in  the 
country,  Dr.  Milnor  writes, 

"I  cannot  but  remark  on  the  very  inconvenient  arrangement 
to  which  so  many  London  clergymen  subject  themselves,  of  hav- 
ing their  family  residences  in  the  country  at  distances  from  three 
to  ten  miles.  Mr.  Noel's  duties  call  him  to  the  city  almost  every 
day;  and  yet  he  subjects  himself  to  the  trouble  and  loss  of  time 
unavoidably  attendant  on  the  arrangement,  and  that  throughout 
the  whole  year.  But  the  practice  is  more  objectionable  in  another 
view,  and  that  is,  its  injurious  effect  on  the  pastoral  relation.  This 
I  found  to  be  a  frequent  complaint  among  the  laity.  Where  they 
are  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  public  services  of  their  ministers, 
they  charge  them  with  remissness  in  visiting,  and  express  regret 
that  they  have  so  little  religious  intercourse  with  their  pastors. 
In  this  respect,  curates  are  less  censured  than  rectors ;  but  it 
certainly  is  one  of  the  evils  of  the  establishment,  that  the  pas- 
toral office  is  so  feebly  sustained  by  a  great  portion  of  its  clergy, 
^h6se  i^idependence  of  their  congregations  allows  them  a  license 
in  neglecting  their  flocks  which  with  us  would  soon  lead  to  a 
separation.  This  censure,  however,  by  no  means  attaches,  in  all 
its  extent,  to  those  ministers  whose  hearts  are  in  their  work  ; 
though  many  of  these  are  apt  to  depend  upon  their  assistants  for 
the  principal  performance  of  the  duty  in  question." 

The  public  "clerical  breakfast"  of  Wednesday  morning  was 
"given  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wilson,  at  the  vicarage"  of  Islington, 
to  "a  party  of  about  thirty  clergymen,  and  half  that  number  of 
ladies;"  and  the  religious  service  which  followed  was  in  Mr. 
Wilson's  "study,"  "a  spacious  room,  with  an  uncommonly  lofty 
ceiling,  and  having  its  walls  lined  with  ranges  of  neatly  con- 
structed bookcases,  containing  a  library  of  6,000  volumes."  The 
repast  was  closed  by  Mr.  Wilson's  "giving  out  a  verse  of  thanks- 
giving, which  was  sung  by  the  company  standing.  He  then  pro- 
posed that  they  should  amuse  themselves  for  fifteen  minutes  in 
his  garden,  a  beautiful  spot,  kept  in  the  neatest  order;  and  re- 
assemble in  his  study "  at  the  expiration  of  that  time. 


MISSION  TO  ENOLAND..  347 

The  exercises  in  thfe  study  were  opened  with  prayer ;  contin- 
ued in  the  discussion  of  certain  topics  suggested  by  the  vicar, 
"with  intervals  for  prayer  and  private  fneditation ;"  and  closed 
as  they  opened — leaving  "  an  impression  on  the  minds  of  all,  that 
their  coming  together  had  been  for  the  better,  and  not  for  the 
worse." 

Mr.  Wilson  "proposed,  as  the  first  topic"  for  discussion,  "  The 
best  means  of  obtaining  correct  views  of  the  mind  of  the  Spirit, 
as  revealed  in  the  sacred  Scriptures  f*  and,  "after  a  few  explan- 
atory remarks,"  called  on  Dr.  Milnor,  "  without  any  previous 
notice,  to  give  his  views  upon  the  subject."  "In  the  presence 
of  so  many  gentlemen  more  competent  than  myself,"  he  remarks, 
"I  would  willingly  have  been  excused  from  this  duty;  but  un- 
derstanding that  it  was  not  usual,  at  meetings  such  as  this,  to 
decline  any  required  service,  I  proceeded  to  give  such  an  answer 
to  the  inquiry  as  I  was  enabled  to  do  on  so  sudden  a  request. 
Reading,  as  the  basis  of  my  remarks,  a  part  of  the  second  chap- 
ter of  the  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  I  suggested,  and  in  an 
address  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  a  little  enlarged  upon  the 
following  means  of  obtaining  the  proposed  end : 
"1.  A  competency  of  human  learning. 
"  2.  A  renewed  heart. 

"  3.  Close  and  patient  study,  'comparing  spiritual  things  with 
spiritual.' 

,( •    "4.  Implicit  submission  of  our  imperfect  reason  to  the  clear 
discoveries  of  God  in  his  holy  word. 

"  5.  Reliance  on  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
"  6.  Continual  prayer  for  the  dispensation  of  that  Spirit. 
"  The  want  of  attention  to  one  or  more  of  these  particulars  I 
considered  as  the  main  cause  of  the  heresies,  superstitions,  and 
errors,  which  have  deformed  and  distracted  the  Christian  church." 
After  prayer  and  secret  meditation,  Mr.  Wilson  proposed,  as 
the  second  topic  for  discussion,  "  The  mind  of  the  Spirit,  as  re- 
vealed in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  in  regard  to  the  person  and  grace 
of  Christ  f  and  called  on  the  Rev.  J.  Haldane  Stewart  to  speak 
to  the  point.    He  obeyed  in  a  discussion  of  some  length,  evincing 
familiarly  deep  acquaintance  with  his  theme. 

Another  interval  for  prayer  and  secret  meditation  ensued, 


348  -    MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR.  '        ., 

and  then  Mr.  Wilson  proposed,  as  the  third  topic  fqr  discussion, 
"  That  depravity  of  heart  in  the  unregenerate,  and  that  remain- 
der of  evil  in  the  regenerate,  which  obstruct  right  apprehen- 
sions of  the  person  and  grace  of  Christ^''''  and  called  on  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Darby  for  his  views  in  illustration  of  the  same ;  and 
they  were  given  in  a  way  which  showed,  that  like  the  preceding 
speakers,  he  was  "a  scribe  well  instructed  unto  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  -  '■■:■'■ 

Need  it  be  doubted,  that  after  discussion,  by  Christians  of 
such  heavenly  ripeness,  of  topics  like  these,  sprinkled  with  so 
much  of  the  incense  of  holy  prayer  and  silent  musing,  many  of 
.  -  the  members  of  that  favored  circle  went  forth  and  preached 
Christ  with  a  clearness  and  an  unction  which  had  never  before 
marked  their  teachings  on  this  great  theme  ? 

At  the  dinner,  this  evening,  with  Lord  Bexley,  which  was 
one  of  "  great  sociability"  and  profitable  friendliness,  "the 
bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "  pressed 
me  to  spend  a  few  days  with  him  at  Eccleshall  Castle,  in  the 
course  of  the  summer,  and  kindly  gave  me  a  memorandum  of 
.  the  times  when  I  would  be  sure  to  meet  him  at  home;  and 
Lord  Bexley  proposed  my  spending  a  week  with  him,  on  the 
.  removal  of  his  family,  for  the  summer  season  to  his  seat  at  Foot's 
Cray." 

At  the  anniversary,  on  Friday,  of  the  Society  for  promoting 
.  the  principles  of  the  Reformation,  Dr.  Milnor's  feelings  were  not 
a  little  disturbed  by  an  untimely  and  "  vehement"  discussion,  by 
the  Rev.  Hugh  McNeile  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dalton,  of  "the  pro- 
phetical question ;"  exhibiting  their  "  views  of  the  coming  of  the 
Messiah,"  and  urging  "the  high  doctrines  of  Calvin  as  among  the 
purest  principles  of  the  Reformation."  They  "reflected  severely 
on  the  evangelical  clergy  "  in  general,  as  not  coming  up  to  their 
standard,  and  at  the  same  time,  "  in  very  severe  terms  denounced 
dissent,  and  seemed  to  rest  the  claims  of  the  established  Church, 
as  a  true  Church  of  Christ,  upon  its  connection  with  the  state." 
"Nothing,"  adds  Dr.  Milnor,  "so  apparently  out  of  place  as  the 
remarks  of  these  gentlemen,  had  occurred  in  all  my  attendance 
upon  the  public  meetings.  They  are  both  talented  men,  and  Mr. 
McNeile,  who  is  son-in-law  to  Dr.  Magee,  archbishop  of  Dublin, 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  349 

is  a  fine-looking  man,  and  a  remarkably  fluent  and  powerful 
speaker." 

The  dinner-party,  this  evening,  at  the  Bishop  of  Winchester's, 
was  one  of  great  interest.  The  bishop's  city  residence,  in  St. 
James'  Square,  "  folrmerly  belonged  to  the  Duke  of  Leeds,  but  the 
bishop  has  now  purchased  it  as  a  permanent  city  establishment 
for  himself  and  his  successors."  His  "  income  is  said  to  be 
£18,000  sterling."  "  Mrs.  Sumner,  the  bishop's  lady,  is  a  native 
of  Switzerland,  of  a  ruddy  complexion,  and  a  countenance  rather 
handsome.     Her  piety  is  unquestioned." 

"  The  company  consisted,"  besides  their  host,  "  of  his  brother, 
the  bishop  of  Chester ;  the  dean  of  Salisbury ;  the  chaplains  of 
the  two  bishops  ;  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wilson ;  the  Rev.  Francis  Cun- 
ningham ;  the  Rev.  Mr,  Pell,  of  Islington ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Melvill, 
of  Camberwell ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crossman ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart ; 
several  other  clergymen ;  three  or  four  ladies,  and  a  few  lay 
gentlemen."  Much  conversation  was  had  on  the  subjects  of 
prison  discipline,  the  progress  of  the  temperance  reformation  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath,  especially  in 
London.  "  The  bishop  of  Winchester  also  mentioned  a  singular 
custom  which  prevails  in  the  island  of  Guernsey,  a  part  of  his 
diocese."  In  that  little  by-place,  of  which  so  little  is  generally 
known,  it  seems  that  "  they  have  popular  elections  for  several 
officers,  occurring  several  times  in  the  course  of  the  year.  These 
are  held  o^  Sunday,  after  service  in  the  parish  church,  and  are 
often  accompanied  with  brawls  and  battles.  He  said  he  was 
assured  by  the  rector  of  one  of  the  churches,  that  at  a  recent 
Sunday  election,  he  was  the  only  sober  person  present.  The 
bishop  has  been  laboring  to  get  the  time  and  place  of  these  elec- 
tions changed ;  but  it  seems  to  be  claimed  as  a  matter  of  inter- 
nal arrangement,  by  the  authorities  of  the  island,  where  the 
assent  of  three  estates  is  necessary  to  bring  about  this  salutary 
measure.  I  am  not  certain,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "that  I  remember 
their  several  denominations,  but  I  think  they  were  the  clergy, 
the  magistrates,  and  the  constables.  The  first  two  orders  have 
met  and  deliberated,  and  are  in  favor  of  the  proposed  change ; 
but  the  constables  are  for  adhering  to  this  odious  desecration  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  therefore  absent  themselves  from  the  meetings, 


350  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  prevent  the  accomplishment"  of  the  bishop's  measure,  "their 
presence  being  necessary  to  form  a  quorum." 

The  evening  being  thus  agreeably  spent,  "after  tea  in  the 
drawing-room,  the  company  were  invited  into  an  adjoining  par- 
lor, when  Mrs.  Sumner  seated  herself  at  a  grand  piano,  and  ac- 
companied by  the  chaplain,  played  and  sung  a  fine  piece  of  sacred 
music.  We  were  then  provided  with  hymn-books,  and  sung, 
standing,  the  hymn, 

'  How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds 
In  a  believer's  ear, 3' 

after  which  the  bishop  gave  out  the  Doxology, 

'  Praise  God,  frond  whom  all  blessings  flow,' 
which  was  sung  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred,  and  we  took  our 
leave." 

Dr.  Milnor's  account  of  the  breakfast  on  Saturday  morning, 
has  much  interest. 

"  Having  been  invited  to  bTcakfast  this  morning  with  Gapt. 
Gordon,  in  St.  James'  Place,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  Dr.. 
Chalmers,  I  proceeded  thither  at  the  appointed  hour.  I  found 
the  doctor  there,  and  was  introduced  to  him  ;  but  regretted  that 
he  could  stay  but  a  few  minutes,  being  under  a  previous  engage- 
ment to  breakfast  elsewhere.  In  the  short  conversation  which  I 
had  with  him,  he  observed,  that  he  was  very  happy  to  hear  of  the 
rapid  progress  of  learning  and  religion  in  the  United  States.  He 
had  read  with  great  satisfaction  the  writings  of  several  of  our 
American  divines,  and  referred  especially  to  those  of  Dr.  Stuart, 
of  Andover ;  adding,  that  he  had  lately  read  and  much  admired 
the  work  of  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Princeton,  on  the  canon  of  Scrip- 
ture. The  doctor  kindly  said,  he  hoped  he  should  meet  with  me 
before  he  left  London ;  but  if  not,  would  expect  me  to  call  on  him 
if  I  went  to  Edinburgh.  I  was  sorry  that  my  friend  Mcllvaine, 
who  had  spent  the  night  out  of  town,  arrived  with  the  Rev.  B. 
W.  Noel  too  late  to  see  a  man  whose  writings  have  so 'much 
instructed  and  delighted  us  at  home. 

"  Captain  Gordon,  our  host,  is  a  countryman  of  Dr.  Chal- 
mers ;  a  man  of  great  muscular  strength,  and  of  a  proportionably 
vigorous  and  sturdy  mind.     He  is  the  great  champion  of  the 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  351 

Reformation  Society,  a  thoroughly  informed  evangelical  Chris- 
tian, and  particularly  well  acquainted  with  the  whole  merits  of 
the  controversy  between  Protestants  and  Roman  Catholics.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Dalton  was  also  of  our  company  at  breakfast ;  and  we 
did  not  fail  to  express  to  him  our  regret,  that  the  current  of  good 
feeling  at  the  meeting  yesterday,  should  have  been  in  any  de- 
gree interrupted  by  the  introduction  of  topics  on  which  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion  prevailed,  and  which  had  no  connection  with  the 
object  of  the  meeting ;  more  especially,  considering  that  the  opin- 
ions introduced  had  been  received  by  so  small  a  portion  of  the 
audience,  and  that  the  doctrine  of  the  almost  immediate  coming 
of  Christ  was  known  to  have  had  the  effect  of  leading  many  of 
its  advocates  to  abandon  most  of  the  great  religious  institutions. 
Mr.  Dalton,  however,  was  unconvinced  of  the  impropriety  of  his 
course.  He  considered  the  doctrines  which  he  had  promulged  to 
be  true  and  very  important ;  and  being  so,  it  behooved  him  on 
all  occasions  to  urge  them.  Millenarianism  and  supralapsarian 
Calvinism  were,  in  his  view,  such  fundamental  doctrines,  and 
their  rejection  had  such  a  tendency  to  lead  the  mind  into  the 
corruptions  of  popery,  that  he  considered  his  duty  to  God  and 
the  souls  of  his  fellow-men  required  him,  yesterday  particularly, 
to  dwell  upon  them.  It  was  in  vain  to  argue  with  a  man  under 
such  feelings  and  impressions  of  personal  duty.  In  answer  to  an 
intimation  from  me,  that  his  views  of  Christian  doctrine  might 
lead  to  antinomianism,  it  is  due  to  Mr.  Dalton  to  say,  that  he 
utterly  disclaimed  the  right  to  draw  such  inferences  from  his 
doctrine  as  should  lead  to  the  least  allowance  of  sin.  He  admit- 
ted that,  in  due  proportion,  the  whole  gospel  scheme  should  be 
developed ;  and  its  duties  and  obligations,  both  religious  and 
moral,  urged  upon  men.  Mr.  Dalton  himself  bears  the  character 
of  a  man  who  walks  strictly  according  to  godliness.  Our  converr 
sation  was  spirited,  but  in  good  temper,  and  was  concluded  with 
prayer." 

The  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Antislavery  Society,  after 
breakfast,  was  a  scene  of  most  intense  excitement.  Freemasons' 
Hall  was  crowded  with  an  almost  impenetrable  mass ;  so  that 
when  "  the  committee,  headed  by  Mr.  Wilberforce,  the  veteran 
advocate  "  of  the  oppressed  African,  entered,  they  were  obliged 


352  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.     ..     '  • 

to  "  force  their  way  through  the  dense  crowd.  Every  one  seemed 
to  feel  for  the  distinguished  champion  of  African  liberty,  whose 
appearance  was  now  that  of  a  shadow  of  a  man,  and  who  was 
quite  exhausted  after  accomplishing  the  labor  of  getting  to  his 
place.  In  a  few  words  of  address  from  his  colleague,  the  vener^- 
able  Thomas  Clarkson,  he  was  proposed  as  chairman ;  and  his 
appointment  to  that  office  was  carried  by  an  astounding  accla- 
'  mation.  •  fi;jdTi» 

"  On  taking  the  chair,"  continues  Dr.  Milnor,  "  he  made  an 
address  of  some  length,  with  much  energy  of  manner,  but  in  so 
feeble  a  voice,  that  I  presumed  those  at  the  greatest  distance, 
notwithstanding  the  profound  attention  of  the  audience,  could 
scarcely  hear  him.  He  was  repeatedly  cheered  with  loud  ap- 
plause, and  at  the  close,  with  a  long  reiteration  of  it,  in  which 
several  well-dressed  sons  of  Africa  on  the  platform  most  heartily 
joined." 

The  regular  speakers  on  the  occasion  seem  to  have  been  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Buxton,  M.  P.,  Lord  Milton,  Josiah  Foster,  T.  Bab- 
ington  Macauley,  Lord  Calthorpe,  the  Rev.  David  Wilson,  George 
Bennett,  Esq.,  Charles  Brownlow,  M.  P.,  and  the  celebrated  Mr. 
(now  Lord)  Brougham.  But  a  scene  of  the  most  animated  and 
stormily  sublime  excitement  was  produced  by  an  attempt  of  Mr. 
Hunt  the  radical,  though  not  a  member  of  the  society,  to  intro- 
duce his  peculiar  views,  and  to  bring  odium  on  the  society  for 
expending  all  its  sympathy  on  the  suffering  slave  of  the  "West 
Indies,  to  the  neglect  of  the  more  suffering  operative  of  England; 
and  the  strong  spirit  of  eloquence  being  thus  stirred,  a  discussion 
subsequently  sprung  up,  which  brought  out  some  of  the  most 
powerful  speakers  of  the  day — Mr.  Pownell,  Mr.  Drtimmond  the 
banker,  Mr.  Spring  Rice,  M.  P.,  Daniel  O'Connell,  Mr.  Den- 
ham,  { or  Denman, )  and  Dr.  Lushington,  both  M.  P's. 

Mr.  Hunt,  after  being  received  at  first  with  fierce  English 
defiance,  finally  obtained  the  floor  through  the  intercession  of  Mr. 
Brougham ;  but  "  his  language  became  at  length  so  offensive," 
that  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  society,  he  was  compelled 
"  reluctantly  to  take  his  seat ;"  and  when  it  came  to  be  Mr. 
Brougham's  turn  to  speak,  he  "  honored  Mr.  Hunt  with  an  an- 
swer to  his  animadversion  on  the  supporters  of  this  institution," 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  353 

and  showed  that  the  friends  of  the  West  India  slave  "  were,  with 
very  few  exceptions,  thd  very  men  who  manifested  most  anxiety 
for  the  moral  and  social  welfare  of  the  poorer  classes  at  home." 

When  Dr.  Milnor  and  his  friend  Mcllvaine  left  the  meeting, 
<'  it  was  past  five  o'clock,  and  others  w^re  still  to  speak."  "  With 
some  difiiculty,"  he  writes,  we  "  made  our  way  out,  being  under 
an  engagement  to  dine  with  Mr.  Ewbank,  of  Peckham.  We 
were  so  delayed  in  finding  a  conveyance,  that  it  was  near  seven 
o'clock  when  we  arrived  at  Mr.  Ewbank's.  Dinner,  however, 
had  been  delayed.  Before  the  company  rose  from  table,  I  re- 
gretted that  my  friend  found  himself  so  fatigued  by  the  length 
and  excitement  of  the  antislavery  meeting,  that  he  was  obliged 
to  retire  for  the  night. 

"  Before  the  company  retired,  I  was  called  upon  to  read, 
expound,  and  pray ;  and,  being  under  an  engagement  to  spend 
to-morrow  with  this  hospitable  family,  I  went  to  bed,  not  like 
my  friend,  sick,  but  uncommonly  weary  with  the  exercises  of 
the  day." 


SECTION  VI. 

The  great  London  anniversaries  were  now  at^n  end;  and  it 
only  remained  for  Dr.  Milnor,  during  his  stay  in  England,  to  cul- 
tivate and  perfect  the  many  delightful  and  valuable  friendships, 
which,  during  their  progress,  he  had  formed,  and  to  dispose  of 
the  numerous  subordinate  details  of  business  with  which  he  had 
come  charged  from  his  native  land. 

His  Sunday  at  Peckham,  May  16,  was  spent  in  attending 
service,  with'  his  hospitable  entertainers,  morning  and  evening, 
at  Camden  chapel,  in  the  near  suburb  of  Camberwell,  where  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Melvill  preached;  and,  in  the  afternoon,  at  another 
neighboring  chapel,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Springett  officiated.  Of 
Mr.  Melvill's  discourses  he  took  copious  notes ;  but  the  name  and 
character  of  that  preacher  are  too  well  known  to  need  illustra- 
tion from  such  a  source.  Dr.  Milnor  returned  to  Mr.  Ewbank's ; 
and,  after  "  conducting  family  devotions,  retired  to  rest,  both 

Meiii.HaDor.  23 


354  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

pleased  and  edified  with  much  that  he  had  heard,  and  refreshed 
with  the  delightful  solemnities  of  the  house  of  God." 

Mr.  Melvill  came  to  breakfast  the  next  morning  at  Mr.  Ew- 
bank's,  and  they  enjoyed  his  "  pleasing  conversation  until  near 
11  o'clock ;"  when  Dr.  Milnor  and  Mr.  Mcllvaine  went  with  Mrs. 
Ewbank  and  her  three  sisters  to  "  Dulwioh  college,  a  delightful 
establishment  about,  four  miles  distant,"  to  see  "  the  Bourgeois 
collection  of  pictures,"  so  called  from  the  donor,  Sir  Francis 
Bourgeois.  "  The  institution,  though  called  a  college,  is  so  only 
in  name.  It  has  a  considerable  endowment,  which  supports  a 
few  old  people,  pays  the  salaries  of  certain  officers,  and  main- 
tains the  exhibition  of  these  pictures." 

After  spending  about  two  hours  at  this  charming  place,  they 
proceeded  "  through  a  very  pleasant  range  of  country,  including 
the  fine  town  of  Deptford,  on  the  Thames,  to  Greenwich,"  "  to 
dine  with  Mr.  Locker,  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Greenwich 
Hospital,  and  secretary  to  that  institution."  Before  dinner  they 
took  a  view  of  "  this  magnificent  establishment ;"  the  apart- 
ments of  the  veteran  tars ;  the  schools  for  the  children,  boys  and 
girls ;  the  gymnasium,  where  the  lads  are  trained  to  wonderful 
strength  and  expertness  in  all  the  exercises  of  nautical  athletse  ; 
the  cooking  and  washing  establishments,  and  the  dormitories,  all 
worthy  of  this  vast  palace  of  England's  scarred  and  superannu- 
ated sailors  and  their  families.  They  visited  also  its  "  beautiful 
park,  two  and  a  half  miles  in  circumference,"  and  stocked  with 
two  hundred  of  the  king's  deer ;  the  Royal  Observatory  on  the 
eminence,  overlooking  walks  made  shady  by  "  elms  more  than 
two  hundred  years  old ;"  and  the  chapel,  with  its  altar-piece  by 
"West,  representing  "  St.  Paul's  preservation  from  shipwreck," 
an  idea  most  appropriate  to  the  leading  design  of  this  grand 
naval  hospital.  "  How  lamentable,"  writes  Dr.  Milnor,  "  that, 
in  an  institution  containing  such  a  number  of  inmates,  there 
should  be,  as  we  understood,  a  great  want  of  solid  spiritual 
instruction ;  especially  when  the  further  fact  is  added,  that  two 
hundred  of  the  aged  tenants  of  Greenwich  annually  sink  into 
the  grave." 

At  dinner,  they  found  their  host  to  be  "  a  scholar  of  Eton,  a 
gentleman  of  great  intelligence,  and  a  decidedly  pious  man;" 


MISSION    TO   ENGLAND.  355 

who  informed  them  "  that  this  great  institution  is  supported  by 
funds  of  its  own  ;"  and  that,  of  its  "  board  of  five  commissioners, 
all,  except  Mr.  Locker,  were  at  that  time  titled  persons,  who  paid 
great  attention  to  its  affairs." 

At  8  o'clock,  they  "  took  a  row-boat  to  convey  them  to  Lon- 
don ;"  and  as  they  reached  "the  steps  leading  down  to  the 
Thames,  in  front  of  the  hospital,  they  had  a  fine  view  of  the 
whole  from  the  water,"  with  its  terrace  on  the  river,  nine  hun- 
dred feet  long ;  the  grand  square  between  the  wings,  more  than 
two  hundred  feet  broad;  the  statue  of  George  II.,  which  orna- 
ments the  centre  ;  and  the  entire  mass  of  building,  "  of  white 
stone,  richly  wrought,  and  forming  a  pile  of  palaces  far  too  gor- 
geous for  the  purpose  to  which  they  are  now  applied." 

Dr.  Milnor's  first  engagement  on  Tuesday  morning.  May  18, 
was  to  attend  a  public  breakfast  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart's,  very 
similar  in  character  to  that  at  Islington,  of  which  an  account  has 
been  given.  The  principal  point  of  difference  was,  that  instead 
of  three  separate  topics  for  discussion,  Mr.  Stewart  proposed  but 
one,  on  which  he  invited  different  speakers  to  give  their  own 
favorite  views.  The  interest  of  the  discussion  may  be  inferred 
from  the  theme  proposed,  "What  part  of  the  character  and 
offices  of  Christ  had  any  of  us  found  most  serviceable  to  our  own 
souls,  and  to  the  souls  of  those  committed  to  our  charge  ?"  and 
from  the  names  of  those  who  were  invited  to  discuss  it,  Daniel 
Wilson,  Dr.  Milnor,  and  the  author  of  "the  Velvet  Cushion,"  J. 
W.  Cunningham. 

The  company  at  breakfast  consisted,  besides  their  entertain- 
ers, of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Wilson,  Dr.  Milnor,  B.  W.  Noel,  J.  W. 
Cunningham,  his  brother  Francis  Cunningham,  Mr.  Hatchard, 
Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Foot,  and  several,  other  clergymen,  with  Sir 
Thomas  Baring,  and  a  number  of  other  gentlemen  and  ladies. 
Mr.  Mcllvaine  also,  who  had  been  too  ill  to  be  present  at  break- 
fast, "joined  them  in  the  course  of  their  morning  duties."  "At 
their  termination,"  says  the  journal,  "  we  agreed  that  it  was,  to 
each  of  us,  a  season  of  peculiar  spiritual  enjoyment ;  and  humr 
bly  did  we  trust  that  we  had  with  us  the  divine  presence  and 
blessing." 

Such  are  the  entertainments  which  true  British  Christians 


356  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

prepare  for  their  foreign  brethren  of  kindred  soul ;  and  which 
draw  from  noble  ranks  guests  who  are  not  ashslmed  to  sit  openly 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  amid  the  offerings  of  prayer,  and  spiritual 
song,  and  holy  teaching. 

Wednesday  morning,  May  19,  he  "  rose  early,  and  was  busily 
engaged  during  the  forenoon  in  various  matters  relating  to  the 
Religious  objects  committed  to  his  charge." 

At  twelve  o'clock  he  "  went  to  the  Caledonian  chapel,"  Mr. 
Irving's,  "to  hear  Dr.  Chalmers  preach  a  sermon  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Society  for  the  support  of  Schools  in  the  Highlands  and 
Islands  of  Scotland.  His  subject  was.  Popular  Education ;  and 
his  discourse,  written  in  his  usual  elevated  style,  occupied  an  hour 
in  the  delivery."  Says  the  journal,  "Nothing  but  the  sterling 
good-sense  and  piety  that  pervaded  this  discourse,  and  the  fine 
language  in  which  the  thoughts  of  the  preacher  were  clothed, 
could,  for  so  long  a  time,  have  so  enchained  the  attention  of  a 
crowded  audience.  For  though  the  doctor's  manner  is  very  ear- 
nest, yet  in  other  respects  his  delivery  is  very  unpleasant.  His 
pronunciation  is  strongly  Scottish ;  so  much  so,  that  some  of  his 
words,  though  loudly  uttered,  were  lost  upon  my  ear.  His  voice 
appeared  to  be  so  painfully  exerted,  as  at  times  to  become  almost 
a  scream.  His  gesture  was  confined  to  an  awkward  up  and 
down  motion  of  his  right  hand ;  and  his  eyes  were  pretty  closely 
confined  to  his  notes.  And  yet  the  distinguished  talents  of  Dr. 
Chalmers,  his  loftiness  of  thought,  and  grandeur  of  rcxpression, 
together  with  the  practical  utility  of  his  discourses,  raise  him  so 
far  above  his  cotemporaries,  that  you  are  willing  to  excuse  all 
the  disadvantageous  circumstances  of  voice^  and  accent,  and 
manner  in  their  delivery." 

"  I  regretted  to  find  that,  by  my  absence,  I  had  missed  see- 
ing our  American  ambassador  and  Zachary  Macauley,  Esq.,  who 
had  called  and  left  cards  at  my  lodgings." 

Much  of  his  time  for  several  days  was  now  spent  in  a  social 
manner,  and  in  visiting  and  describing  the  sights  of  gredt  Lon- 
don, too  familiar  to  readers  of  foreign  travel  to  need  a  place  in 
this  work ;  and  too  briefly  described  by  Dr.  Milnor  to  increase 
the  interest  of  his  memoir. 
-   On  Thursday,  May  20,  he  dined  again  with  his  friend  Mr. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  357 

Gilliat  of  Clapham,  where  he  met  Mr.  Solicitor  Poynder,  and  the 
Rev,  Mr.  Hughes,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  "  the  British  and  For- 
eign Bible  Society."  Of  the  latter  he  remarks,  "  Mr.  Hughes  is 
a  man  of  learning  as  well  as  of  sound  understanding  and  eminent 
piety ;  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination ;  and  the  man 
imth  whom  originated  the^  idea  of  forming  a  grand  national 
society  for  the  distribution  of  the  Bibles 

Friday  afternoon  he  went  to  Woolwich  "to  dine  with  Dr. 
Olinthus  Gregory,  principally  known  to  us  in  America  by  his 
excellent  Letters  on  the  Evidences  of  the  Christian  religion... 
Unhappily,"  he  writes,  "we  found  Dr.  Gregory  in  his  chamber, 
having  been  ill  for  several  weeks  past.  He  came  down  stairs  for 
about  an  hour  after  dinner ;  and  while  he  was  able  to  remain, 
conversed  with  great  vivacity  and  interest.  He  is  a  man  of  very 
pleasing  manners,  as  well  as  great  talents,  and  learning,  and 
piety." 

In  the  evening  he  met,  at  his  friend  Dr.  Parker's,  a  company 
of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  The  occasion  of  this  assemblage  was 
a  custom  which,  "for  twenty  years  past,"  had  prevailed  among 
"  a  few  pious  families  in  Woolwich,  to  meet  at  each  others' 
houses  in  rotation  every  Friday  evening,  for  the  reading  of  the 
Scriptures,  religious  conversation,  and  prayer."  After  the  close 
of  the  exercises,  Dr.  Milnor  observes,  "How  rational  and  charm- 
ing a  way  of  increasing  the  delights  of  social  intercourse,  and  of 
rhaking  our  very  pleasures  conduce  to  our  growth  in  religious 
knowledge  and  practical  piety." 

Having  spent  the  night  with  Dr.  Parker,  he  went  on  Satur- 
day to  view  "  the  Woolwich  arsenal,  one  of  the  grandest  estab- 
lishments of  the  kind  in  the  world ;  covering  a  plot  immediately 
on  the  Thames  of  more  than  two  hundred  acres,"  and  filled  with 
"  all  the  munitions  of  war ;"  in  looking  upon  which,  a  French- 
man, with  a  customary  national  expletive,  exclaimed,  "Here 
are  oceans  of  guns,  and  mountains  of  shot." 

Sunday,  May  23,  he  rode  with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  "to  Paul's 
Cray,  seven  miles  distant,"  to  spend  the  day  with  "  the  Rev.  John 
Symonds,  the  rector  of  the  parish,  and  the  venerable  father  of 
Mrs.  Parker."  His  friend  Mcllvaine  accompanied  him.  Of  this 
visit  the  journal  gives  the  following  account. 


358  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  Mr.  Symonds  is  now  seTenty-five  years  old,  and  has  been 
for  fifty  years  rector  of  this  parish.  He  is  a  tall,  spare,  pale- 
faoed  old  gentleman ;  but  of  an  amiable  countenance,  affection- 
ate manners,  and  great  piety.  He  has  the  reputation,  along 
with  his  many  excellent  qualities,  of  being  not  a  little  eccentric. 

"  Though  his  curate  was  present,  yet  the  old  gentleman  read 
the  morning  service  and  preached  extemporaneously  for  nearly 
an  hour.  His  manner  was  very  lively  and  energetic  for  a  man 
of  such  advanced  age."  His  text  being  Heb.  2  :  6-11,  "  he  dwelt 
earnestly  on  two  topics,  of  which  he  is  said  to  be  peculiarly  fond : 
full  assurance,  which  he  seemed  to  consider  a  necessary  evidence 
of  true  faith,  and  claimed  as  the  undoubted  privilege  of  every 
real  believer  ;  and  the  spiritual  union  of  Christ  with  the  believer, 
which,  as  he  considers,  is  not  maintained,  in  its  just  extent,  by 
even  the  evangelical  clergy  of  the  Church. 

"After  morning  service,  a  loaf  of  bread  was  given  to  each  of 
a  crowd  of  thirty  or  forty  poor  persons  ;  a  custom  which  the  aged 
rector  has  long  observed  every  Lord's-day  morning.  He  says  it 
relieves  their  bodily  wants  and  brings  them  to  church,  where, 
peradventure,  they  may  find  a  supply  of  their  spiritual."  The 
journal  questions  the  expediency  of  such  a  motive  to  attend 
church,  but  adds,  "  The  rector  stood  at  the  door  to  give  a  word 
of  religious  counsel  to  his  beneficiaries,  and  pronounced  upon 
them  his  pastoral  benediction." 

V.  In  the  afternoon  the  curate  read  prayers  and  preached ;  and 
in  the  evening,  after  tea,  the  company  engaged  in  a  religious 
service,  to  which  the  servants  were  not  invited.  "  I  was  sur- 
prised," says  Dr.  Milnor,  "  that  at  this,  which  I  supposed  to  be 
the  family  service,  the  domestics  were  not  called  in ;  but  I  found 
my  mistake,  when,  later  in  the  evening,  Mr.  Symonds  intimated 
that  the  hour  had  arrived  for  his  stated  family  devotions.  Six 
or  seven  servants  were  then  called  in,  and  a  second  service  of  a 
similar  kind  took  place.  The  benevolence  of  the  old  gentleman 
was  particularly  exhibited  in  his  expositions  of  Scripture,  and  in 
his  kind  addresses  to  his  domestics.  About  an  hour  was  after- 
wards spent  in  conversation,  in  which  Mr.  Symonds  recurred  to 
his  favorite  topics,  full  assurance  as  inseparably  connected  with 
a  vital  faith,  and  the  indissoluble  union  of  the  believer  with 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  359 

Christ.  To  these  doctrines  he  adds  a  firm  persuasion  of  the 
speedy  personal  coming  of  Christ  to  reign  with  his  saints  upon 
the  earth.  He  does  not,  like  Mr.  Irving  and  his  associates,  dog- 
matize as  to  the  place  in  which  his  throne  is  to  be  establishedi 
or  as  to  the  period  of  his  reign,  and  many  other  circumstances, 
which  are  expected  to  attend,  that  great  event.  But  by  cal- 
culations, founded  on  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Testament  and 
the  book  of  the  Revelation,  he  is  persuaded  that,  about  the  year 
1836,  Christ  will  appear,. the  saints  will  awake  from  the  dead, 
and  the  living  believers  be  changed.  He  expressed  a  confident 
belief,  that  if  he  should  live  six  years  from  the  present  date, 
John  Symonds  would  never  die." 

Returning  to  London  Monday  morning.  Dr.  Milnor  attended 
"  by  appointment  the  Institution  for  the  instruction  of  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb  in  Surrey,"  where  he.  witnessed  a  much  more  favor- 
able result  of  the  experiment  of  teaching  this  class  of  pupils  to 
articulate^  than  that  which  he  had  witnessed  at  Liverpool.  "  I 
conversed  some  time,"  says  he,  "  with  a  deaf  mute,  who  is  a 
tutor  in  the  school,  of  considerable  intelligence.  He  spoke 
plainly,  grammatically,  and  agreeably ;  and,  with  now  and  then 
a  repetition  of  my  words,  understood  me  by  the  motion  of  my 
lips.  I  was  allowed  to  see  several  of  his  compositions,  which 
evinced  a  finely  cultivated  mind,  an  accurate  acquaintance  with 
the  construction  of  sentences,  and,  what  to  me  was  most  pleasing 
of  all,  an  evident  knowledge  of  the  truths  of  religion,  and  a 
practical  impression  of  them  upon  his  own  heart. 

"  But  an  exhibition,  by  which  I  was  particularly  delighted 
and  surprised,  was  by  a  beautiful  boy  twelve  or  thirteen  years 
of  age,  who,  standing  on  a  form,  recited  in  a  sweet,  pensive 
voice,  with  good  accent  and  emphasis,  and  without  the  smallest 
error,  an  address,  which  he  is  to  deliver  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  patrons  of  the  institution,  shortly  to  be  held,  at  which  the 
Duke  of  Gloucester  is  expected  to  preside.  I  held  the  printed 
address  in  my  hand  while  he  delivered  it,  and  am  persuaded  that 
no  one  not  apprized  of  the  fact,  would  have  imagined  this  inter- 
esting child  to  be  an  object  for  the  care  of  such  an  institution  as 
this."  ' 

.ii  -  Mr.  Watson,  the  son  and  successor  of  the  then  lately  deceased 


360  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Dr.  Watson,  as  superintendent  of  the  institution,  "  is  a  decided 
advocate  for  the  instruction  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  in  articula- 
tion ;  though  he  admitted  that,  in  many  cases,  it  was  necessary, 
on  trial,  to  relinquish  the  attempt,  from  the  malformation  of  the 
organs  of  speech,  the  irremediable  unpleasantness  of  the  voice, 
or  the  dulness  and  obstinacy  of  the  pupils.  In  a  large  majority 
of  cases  it  was  successful;  and  he  considered  it  a  great  acqui- 
sition for  these  unfortunate  persons  to  be  able  to  articulate.  He 
said  there  were  no  artificial  contrivances,  and  no  painful  pro- 
cesses, in  giving  them  their  lessons  in  speaking ;  and  where  they 
attained  the  art,  it  always  seemed  a  source  of  pleasure  to  them. 
This  latter  remark  was  confirmed  by  several,  to  whom  I  sepa- 
rately put  the  inquiry  whether  they  considered  it  a  privilege  and 
an  advantage  to  be  taught  to  speak.  There  was  but  one  senti- 
ment-among  them  on  the  subject ;  and  the  older  pupils  expressed 
themselves  strongly  in  favor  of  the  system  of  instruction  here 
pursued. 

,"  "  Mr.  Watson  said  that  he  had  many  children  under  his  tui- 
tion, whom  he  could  send  on  errands  to  any  part  of  the  city, 
without  the  least  fear  of  their  not  being  able  to  make  themselves 
understood  by  oral  speech.  He  also  informed  me  of  a  singular 
fact  which  had  recently  occurred  ;■  that  of  one  of  the  pupils  of 
this  school  having  been  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  want  of  hear- 
ing will  of  course  prevent  his  officiating  as  a  pleader  in  court ; 
but  his  legal  knowledge  is  highly  respectable,  and  he  will  act  as 
chamber  counsel  and  conveyancer.  He  is  stated  to  be  an  excel- 
lent Grreek  and  Latin  scholar,  and  an  expert  mathematician ;  and 
he  speaks  plainly  and  fluently,  and  readily  understands  those 
who  speak  to  him.  I  heard  it  said — with  what  truth  I  do  not 
know — that  a  number  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar  gave  a  dinner 
to  this  new  and  singular  member  of  their  profession,  on  his  admis- 
sion ;  that  the  late  Dr.  Watson  was  a  guest ;  and  that  he  died  a 
few  days  afterwards  ;  his  illness  being  attributed  to  the  effect  of 
excessive  joy  at  this  noble  instance  of  the  success  of  his  art.  It 
was  too  delicate  a  matter  to  be  made  a  subject  of  inquiry  of  his 
son."  ' 

"  I  asked  Mr.  Watson  whether  there  were  any  probability  of 
my  being  able  to  obtain  a  teacher  in  Great  Britain  for  our  New 


MISSION  ^0  ENGLAND.  361 

York  Institution.  He  thought  not.  The  few  who  prepared 
themselves  for  that  office,  soon  found  employment  in  the  various 
schools  which  are  constantly  rising  in  different  parts  of  the 
country." 

After  visiting  "the  model  school  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
School  Society,"  Dr.  Milnor  "  proceeded  to  a  meeting  of  the  com.- 
mittee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  where  he  intro- 
duced his  friend  Mcllvaine  to  the  committee  and  to  the  chair- 
man, Lord  Bexley.  I  availed  myself  of  this  opportunity,"  he 
writes,  "of  communicating  to  the  committee  the  wish  of  the 
managers  of  the  American  Bible  Society  to  be  advised  in  relation 
to  the  most  eligible  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  mod- 
ern Greek.  The  general  sentiment  of  the  members  seemed  to 
be  in  favor  of  the  improved  version  which  preceded  Bishop  Hila- 
rion's,  on  the  ground  that  the  latter  is  in  too  elevated  a  style  for 
common  readers.  They  also  stated  that  they  considered  the  for- 
mer susceptible  of  improvement,  and  that  it  was  now  in  compe- 
tent hands,  undergoing  a  revision,  by  which  they  hoped  it  would 
be  improved.  I  also  respectfully  intimated  the  anxious  desire  of 
our  board  of  managers,  that  this  committee  would  send  a  dele- 
gate, or  delegates,  to  represent  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety at  the  anniversary  of  the  American  Bible  Society  in  May 
next.  The  suggestion  was  kindly  received ;  but  I  did  not  urge, 
in  reference  to  it,  immediate  action." 

." .  Dr.  Milnor  and  Mr.  Mcllvaine  dined,  to-day,  with  Mr.  Surgeon 
Kingdom,  Bank-buildings,  in  company  with  other  gentlemen, 
among  whom  there  was  much  discussion  upon  "  the  comparative 
merits  of  different  systems  of  education  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica, and  upon  the  institutions  of  the  latter  in  church  and  state. 
The  company  professed  to  be  much  gratified  with  the  information 
which  was  communicated  respecting  our  country." 

On  Tuesday,  May  25,  after  much  sight-seeing.  Dr.  Milnor 
and  his  friend  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Raikes,  examining  chap- 
lain to  the  bishop  of  Chester,  in  York  Terrace,  Regent's  Park. 
"A  young  Cantabrigian,"  he  says,  "made  many  inquiries  about 
America,  indicating  a  singular  unacquaintance  with  every  thing 
in  our  country.  I  was  not  more  surprised  at  this  in  him,  than  I 
have  been  at  the  same  thing  in  many  others,  especially  the  clergy. 


362  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

The  merchants  are  the  best  informed  persons  respecting  Amer- 
ican affairs," 

On  Wednesday,  again,  there  was  much  sight-seeing ;  and  it 
was  followed  by  dinner  "with  Zaohary  Macauley,  Esq.,  late 
editor  of  the  Ghristian  Observer,  one  of  the  excellent  of  the 
earth."  Dr.  Milnor  remarks,  "  As  the  company  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  his  own  family  and  connec- 
tions, I  had  the  privilege  of  the  evening's  conversation  with  him 
almost  without  interruption.  He  is  well  acquainted  with  Amer- 
ica, and  has  for  our  country  a  great  regard.  It  supplied  many 
topics  of  conversation. 

riiv  "  Mr.  Macauley  expressed  great  >  regret  at  the  dissensions 
arising  out  of  the  existing  controversies  in  regard  to  prophecy. 
Though  by  no  means  concurring  in  opinion  with  the  Millenarians, 
as  to  the  speedy  personal  coming  of  Christ  to  reign  upon  the 
earth,  yet  he  was  willing  to  allow  them  the  credit  of  a  conscien- 
tious persuasion  of  the  truth  of  their  views,  and  was  not,  there- 
fore, disposed  to  break  friendship  with  them  on  account  of  their 
difference  on  this  point.  But  it  unhappily  occurs,  that  most  of 
the  Millenarians  adopt  novel  ojanions  upon  other  subjects  of  more 
vital  importance;  Mr.  Irving  and  Mr.  McNeile  insisting  on  the 
peccability  of  Christ ;  and  both,  with  many  of  their  friends,  sep- 
arating from  the  Bible  Society  and  other  benevolent  institutions. 
Mr.  McNeile  also  claims  exclusive  jure  divino  right  for  the  estab- 
lished Church,  principally  on  account  of  the  king  being  its  head. 
Of  course,  he  would  unchurch  altogether  our  American  Episco- 
pacy. He  also  pretty  strongly  intimates  the  superiority  of  Jewish 
faith  to  that  of  those  imperfect  believers  in  Christ,  who  do  not 
concur  in  his  Millenarian  views ;  his  mind  inclining  to  the  posi- 
tion, that  their  firm  persuasion  of  a  coming  Messiah,  who  is  to 
reign  at  Jerusalem,  will  more  avail  to  their  salvation  as  Jews, 
that  that  of  antimillenarians  will  to  them  as  Christians." 

Between  the  26th  of  May  and  the  16th  of  June,  the  remainder 
of  his  residence  in  London,  Dr.  Milnor  transacted  various  matters 
of  business  with  the  different  religious  bodies  to  which  he  had 
brought  commissions ;  continuing,  at  the  same  time,  to  cultivate 
and  extend  his  social  and  friendly  relations  with  those  accom- 
plished and  estimable  Christian  men,  who  are  to  be  found  at 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.      ,  363 

that  great  centre  of  English  society.  Especially,  in  the  early 
part  of  .June,  he  wrote  to  "the  Rev.  Mr.  Pritchett,  secretary  of 
the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society,  requesting,  in  the  event 
of  their  publishing  the  anniversary  addresses,  an  opportunity  for 
correcting  the  errors  of  the  report  of  his  speech,  already  pub- 
ished"  in  the  papers.  Notes  of  similar  import  were  at  the  same 
time  addressed  to  the  secretaries  of  other  societies,  at  whose  an- 
niversaries he  had  taken  a  part.  These  indicated  errors  in  the 
newspaper  reports  of  his  addresses,  it  will  be  important  to  bear 
in  mind. 

Among  the  many  gentlemen  in  London  to  whom  he  became 
warmly  attached,  was  that  eminent  man  of  God,  Daniel  Wilson, 
"than  whom,"  says  he,  "no  one  in  England  has  been  more  anx- 
ious to  show  me  kind  attention.  He  calculates  on  my  spending 
a  week  at  his  delightful  residence  in  Islington;  but  that  will  not 
be  practicable,"  Nevertheless,  he  spent  there  the  afternoon  and 
night  of  Thursday,  and  from  that  time  until  Tuesday  morning, 
June  1,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  peaceful  and  blessed  family 
scenes,  amid  which  that  faithful  servant  of  Christ  was  then  mov- 
ing. At  the  Thursday  evening  dinner  he  met  Mr.  Bickersteth 
again,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Natt,  "the  latter  of  whom  had  just  been 
presented  to  the  living  of  St.  Sepulchre's,  Newgate-street.  Ho 
is,"  says  the  journal,  "a  decidedly  evangelical  man,  and  succeeds 
a  drone  in  a  parish  of  15,000  souls,  within  the  limits  of  which, 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  old  city,  there  is  not  another  place  of 
worship,  except  the  adjacent  chapel  in  Newgate  prison.  And 
this  important  station  has  for  forty  years  been  occupied  by  a  man 
who  has  left  no  fruits  of  his  ministry  for  a  blessing  on  his  mem- 
ory. Mr.  Natt's  first  measure  was,  to  dismiss  a  useless  young 
curate,  and  appoint  in  his  place  one  who  is  able  and  willing  to 
work  where  the  required  labor  will  be  immense." 

The  same  evening,  after  dinner,  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the 
committee  of  the  Islington  Church  Missionary  Society,  in  Mr. 
Wilson's  study ;  and,  after  the  transaction .  of  the  regular  busi- 
ness, gave,  at  the  request  of  the  members,  important  information 
touching  "  the  origin,  design,  proceedings,  and  success  of  tem- 
perance societies  in  the  United  States."  ,  He  adds,  "  The  impres- 
sion produced  on  the  minds  of  the  gentlemen  present,  was  quite 


364  ,    MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

favorable  to  the  idea  of  attempting  something  of  the  same  kind 
here.  Mr.  Wilson  invited  two  or  three  gentlemen,  most  likely  to 
take  up  this  business  in  Islington,  to  meet  me  at  dinner  to-mor- 
row for  further  conversation." 

"Our  family  devotions  this  evening,"  he  continues,  "were 
peculiarly  interesting.  Two  young  female  relatives  read  the 
Scriptures  by  alternate  verses ;  Mr.  Wilson,  and  I  at  his  request, 
interspersing  remarks  from  time  to  time.  Miss  Wilson,  an  el- 
derly single  sister  of  the  vicar,  then  read  a  hymn,  and  I  concluded 
with  prayer.  The  intelligence  and  piety  of  Mr.  Wilson,  in  his 
explicatory  and  practical  remarks,  were  delightfully  manifested, 
and  his  manner  was  exceedingly  edifying;  it  was  plain  and  un- 
pretending, yet  full  of  interest  and  instruction." 

A  similar  scene  awaited  him  the  next  morning;  after  which 
his  kind  host  presented  him  with  seven  valuable  volumes,  three 
of  which  contained  Mr.  Wilson's  published  sermons  and  tracts, 
and  two  his  tour  on  the  continent.  The  remaining  two  were 
Baxter's  Reformed  Pastor  and  Wilberforce's.  Practical  View;  to 
each  of  which  the  donor  had  prefixed  valuable  essays  at  the  time 
of  their  republication. 

Between  breakfast  and  dinner  he  visited  the  house  of  the 
Society  for  the  promotion  of  Christian  Knowledge,  and  transacted 
business  involving  the  mutual  relations  of  the  English  and  Amer- 
ican churches,  and  the  interests  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  latter.  At  dinner,  he  writes,  "The 
Rev.  Mr.  Sands,  minister  of  a  newly  erected  chapel  in  Islington, 
was,  besides  myself,  the  only  guest ;  and  he  stated  his  impressions 
from  my  address  last  evening  in  regard  to  temperance  societies, 
to  be  such  that  he  was  persuaded  it  was  his  duty  to  attempt 
something  next  week  towards  the  commencement  of  a  society  in 
a  portion  of  this  parish.  I  promised  to  do  what  I  could  to  assist 
him. 

"After  dinner,  I  accompanied  Mr.  and  Miss  Wilson  to  drink 
tea  with  Mrs.  Fowler,  at  Stoke-Newington.  Besides  meeting  a 
very  sensible  and  devoutly  pious  woman,  the  visit  was  rendered 
interesting  from  the  circumstance,  that  the  house  in  which  Mrs. 
Fowler  resides  was,  for  tliirty-five  years  of  his  life,  the  residence 
of  that  excellent  man,  Dr.  Watts.     We  went  into  his  study,  and 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  365 

saw  a  portrait  of  him  which  hung  there  in  his  lifetime,  and  has 
come  down  as  a  sort  of  heirloom  with  the  house.  We  walked 
through  the  beautiful  grounds  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling,  and 
especially  a  shady  avenue  of  considerable  length,  terminating  in 
an  arbor,  which  was  his  favorite  resort.  I  can  hardly  conceive 
of  a  retreat  more  suited  to  the  feelings  of  such  a  man  as  Dr. 
Watts.  The  house  is  spacious,  with  every  convenience  usual  in 
the  country  residences  of  the  wealthy ;  and  though  I  suppose  it 
to  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  old,  it  is  yet  in  perfect  repair. 
In  the  hall  are  chairs  of  a  very  antique  appearance,  which  were 
there  in  Dr.  Watts'  time,  and  which  are  said  to  have  belonged  to 
the  stadtholder  of  Holland."  . 

Having  led  the  evening  devotions  of  the  families  both  at  Mrs. 
Fowler's  and  at  Mr.  Wilson's,  he  "  retired  to  rest  with  the  im- 
pression of  having  spent  a  portion  of  the  day  with  profit  and 
pleasure." 

He  spent  the  next  evening  at  Bansbury  Park,  with  the  vicar 
and  the  clergy  of  his  parish,  at  their  stated  weekly  meeting, 
though  this  meeting  was  usually  held  at  Mr.  Wilson's  own  house. 
From  the  fact  that  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's,  Islington,  is  very 
large,  and  that  the  building  of  chapels  for  its  population  has  been 
a  favored  measure,  "  Mr.  Wilson  had  the  control  of  five  churches, 
holding  from  1,500  to  2,000  persons  each,  the  ministers  of  which 
were  all  men  of  sentiments  congenial  with  his  own,  united  in  the 
closest  bonds  of  Christian  affection,  and  *  striving  together  for  the 
faith  of  the  Gospel'  and  the  good  of  souls.''  It  was  with  pro- 
priety, therefore,  that  Dr.  Milnor  added,  "The  situation  of  the 
vicar  of  Islington  is  one  of  arduous  duty,  and  great  responsibility, 
and  yet  it  is  truly  enviable.  In  connection  with  his  own  private 
means,  it  supplies  him  with  a  large  fund  for  charitable  eifort, 
which  he  most  faithfully  applies.  Universally  respected  and 
beloved,  his  influence  within  his  important  sphere  is  unbounded. 
Besides,  his  writings  are  extensively  read,  and  his  agency  in  use- 
ful public  institutions  is  eminently  beneficial." 

After  the  meeting  at  Bansbury  Park,  says  the  journal,  "  we 
took  tea  in  Mr.  Wilson's  library,  during  which  a  free  conversa- 
tion occurred,  when  it  gave  me  pleasure  to  answer  many  inqui- 
ries about  the  state  of  religion  and  the  Church  in  the  United 


366  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

States."  The  religious  exercises  which  followed,  were  concluded 
by  Mr.  Wilson,  "with  a  most  spiritual  and  comprehensive  prayer, 
in  which  he  poured  out  his  soul  in  fervent  supplications,  not  only 
for  the  Church  in  England,  but  also  for  the  Church  in  America, 
for  the  congregation  of  St.  George's,  and  in  a  most  touching 
manner,  for  myself  and  the  object  of  my  mission.  May  the  Lord 
make  this  sweet  opportunity  of  brotherly  communion  promotive 
of  the  best  results." 

So  passed,  till  Tuesday  morning,  his  time  with  the  beloved 
vicar  of  Islington,  during  his  sojourn  with  whom,  in  addition  to 
numerous  other  engagements,  he  took  part  in  measures  for  organ- 
izing in  that  important  portion  of  London,  a  society  for  promoting 
the  better  observance  of  the  Lord's  day. 

"  Tuesday,  June  1. — Mr.  Wilson  brought  me  to  town  in  his 
carriage  this  morning,  and  we  attended  together  a  meeting  of 
the  committee  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  An  opportu- 
nity was  offered  me  of  making  a  full  exposition  of  the  views  of 
the  directors  of  the  American  Episcopal  Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society,  in  relation  to  intercourse  with  this  excellent 
institution.  It  was  received  with  the  utmost  kindness,  and  a 
resolution  was  passed  expressive  of  their  regards  towards  our 
society,  and  another  directing  copies  of  their  publications  to  be 
presented  to  it." 

We  pass  over  Wednesday,  spent  chiefly  in  visiting  the  two 
houses  of  Parliament,  to  his  account  of  "  the  anniversary  meeting 
of  the  children  of  the  charity  schools,  held  on  Thursday,  June  3, 
in  the  cathedral  church  of  St.  Paul's. 

"  There  were  in  attendance,"  he  observes,  "  about  6,000  chil- 
dren ;  and  every  part  of  the  church,  from  which  any  view  could 
be  had,  was  crowded  with  spectators.  The  spectacle  wa,s  most 
imposing.  The  children  were  ranged  in  seats  elevated  one  above 
another  around  the  circumference  of  the  pavement  under  the 
grand  dome,  and  clothed  in  dresses  of  various  forms  and  colors, 
according  to  the  costume  used  in  the  several  schools.  The  girls 
were  all  in  close  caps,  some  plain,  others  ornamented  with  bows 
of  ribbons.  The  boys  were  in  new  clothes,  of  many  fashions ; 
and  some  of  them  looked  awkward  enough  in  their  long,  broad- 
backed  coats,  and  short  breeches,  the  latter  of  which  I  observed, 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  367 

in  one  of  the  schools,  to  be  of  leather.  The  cloth  and  the  cut  are, 
in  most  of  the  schools,  what  they  were  at  their  first  institution. 

"  The  exercises  commenced  a  little  after  twelve  o'clock,  by 
the  children  singing,  accompanied  by  the  organ,  the  hundredth 
psalm.  Morning  service  was  partly  read  and  partly  sung  by  the 
cathedral  choir,  the  children  joining,  whenever  it  occurred,  in  the 
Gloria  Patri.  In  that  part  of  the  service  where  prayer  is  made 
for  the  king,  the  choir  and  the  children  sung  the  coronation 
anthem  with  astonishing  power  and.  effect.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  very  Rev.  James  Henry  Monk,  D.  B.,  dean  of 
Peterborough,  from  Matt.  18 :  14 :  '  Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little  ones 
should  perish.'  By  invitation,  we  occupied  seats  in  the  pew 
erected  for  the  members  of  the  '  Society  for  the  promotion  of 
Christian  knowledge,'  one  of  the  most  favorable  positions  for  see- 
ing and  hearing ;  but  the  pulpit  being  placed  immediately  under 
the  great  dome,  the  preacher's  words  were  so  drowned  in  rever- 
berations that  much  of  the  sermon  was  lost  upon  me,  and  I  pre- 
sume that  in  some  parts  of  this  vast  building,  not  even  a  sound 
of  his  voice  was  heard-  The  sermon — a  professed  eulogy  on  the 
Christian  knowledge  society — ^was  about  forty  minutes  long,  and 
the  whole  service  lasted  from  twelve  till  near  three.  To  secure 
places,  we  were  obliged  to  be  in  church  a  little  after  ten. 

"  There  are  few  circumstances  which  I  should  have  regretted 
mor«  than  absence  on  this  occasion ;  and  I  was  much  indebted  to 
Mr.  Wilson  for  his  kindness  in  attending  us,  and  lending  me  gown 
and  bands  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  entrance  at  the  clerical 
door,  which  led  to  the  comfortable  situation  with  which  we  were 
favored.  The  children  kept  good  time,  and  their  voices,  made 
loud  by  the  multitude  from  which  they  ascended,  were  at  the 
same  time  thrillingly  delightful.  The  whole  scene  was  in  a  high 
degree  affecting  to  every  one  present,  who  loved  the  rising  gen- 
eration and  the  improvement  of  their  minds  and  hearts  in  the 
duties  of  religion  and  morality." 

His  engagement  next  day  led  to  a  very  pleasing  acquaintance 
with  that  distinguished  member  of  the  society  of  Friends,  Joseph 
John  Gurney.  Calling  at  the  counting-room  of.  his  brother,  Mr. 
S.  Gurney,  Dr.  Milnor  learned  that  the  former,  who  resided  near 


368  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Norwich,  was  then  in  London,  and  would  dine  with  the  latter  at 
his  residence  in  Upton,  five  miles  from  town.  He  accordingly 
accepted  a  very  urgent  invitation,  and  accompanied  the  brother 
to  dinner. 

"  Mrs.  S.  Gurney,"  continues  the  journal,  "  had  been  engaged 
at  an  anniversary  meeting  of  a  female  society  for  improving  the 
condition  of  female  prisoners,  held  in  a  meeting-house  of  the 
Friends  in  London.  No  gentlemen  were  present,  but  Mrs.  Gur- 
ney  said  the  interest  of  the  meeting,  which  filled  the  house,  was 
sustained  by  successive  addresses  from  ladies  of  various  denomi- 
nations, for  more  than  two  hours.  Many  ladies  of  rank  were 
present.  Mr.  J.  J.  Gurney  had  also  been  detained  in  town,  at  a 
meeting,  which  lasted  several  hours,  of  members  of  the  commit- 
tee of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  and  their  friends ;  the 
object  of  which  was,  to  confer  in  a  friendly  manner  on  a  proposi- 
tion which  has  been  made,  for  opening  the  meetings  of  the  soci- 
ety and  its  committee  with  prayer.  He,  of  course,  as  a  Friend, 
was  opposed  to  the  measure,  and  lamented  its  being  brought  for- 
ward, as  likely  to  lead  to  unhappy  divisions.  He  is,  himself, 
president  of  an  auxiliary  society,  a  situation  which  he  must  re- 
sign if  the, measure  should  be  adopted,  because  he  cannot,  con- 
sistently with  his  principles,  either  make  a  prayer  at  a  fixed  time 
or  call  on  another  person  to  perform  the  duty.  The  gentlemen 
of  dissenting  churches  who  were  present,  though  opposed  to  the 
measure,  yet  put  their  opposition  wholly  on  the  ground  of  regard 
for  the  feelings  of  the  Friends.  It  was  evident,  however,  that 
they  apprehended  difficulty  to  themselves,  in  the  event  of  the 
adoption  of  prayer,  from  a  claim  to  precedence  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duty  which  would  probably  be  urged  by  the  clergy 
of  the  establishment.  In  fact,  before  the  discussion  closed,  it  was 
directly  stated  by  a  clergyman,-'that  such  precedence  would  be 
claimed,  and  also  the  use  of  a  prescribed  form.  Mr.  Gurney  bore 
an  affectionate  testimony  to  the  good  spirit  in  which  the  discus- 
sion was  conducted,  and  declared'  that  if  it  should  be  decided 
against  him,  he  would  not  withdraw  from  the  society  himself, 
and  would  use  his  influence  to  prevent  others  from  withdrawing. 

"  It  is  evident  that  the  question  is  a  very  embarrassing  one  ; 
and  if,  as  Mr.  Gurney  anticipates,  it  should  be  carried  affirma- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  369 

lively,  it  is  greatly  to  be  apprehended  that  it  will  disafFect  many 
Quakers  and  others  towards  the  society ;  while,  if  it  should  be 
negatived,  great  offence  will  be  given  to  those  who  very  consci- 
entiously insist  on  the  introduction  of  prayer.  And  whatever  be 
the  result,  as  to  the  adoption  or  rejection  of  the  measure,  I  much 
fear  that  the  harmony  of  this  noble  institution  will  be  interrupt- 
ed ;  a  result,  in  my  view,  much  more  to  be  deprecated  than  the 
neglect  of  an  outward  expression  of  that  sentiment  of  gratitude 
to  God,  and  of  dependence  on  him,  which  I  have  no  doubt  is  felt 
by  the  functionaries  of  Bible  societies  at  all  their  meetings. 

"  '  Prayer  is  the  soul's  sincere  desire,  i 

Uttered,  or  unexpressed : 
The  motion  of  a  hidden  fire. 
That  tremhles  in  the  hreast. 

Prayer  is  the  burden  of  a  sigh, 

The  falling  of  a  tear ; 
The  upward  glancing  of  an  eye, 

When  none  but  God  is  near.' 

"  I  felt  so  much  interest  in  the  conversation  of  this  intelligent 
and  amiable  man,  that  I  acceded  to  an  urgent  request  to  pass  the 
night  at  Upton.  Our  evening  was  spent  in  conversation  on  the 
unhappy  dissensions  among  the  Friends  in  America,  excited  by 
Elias  Hicks,  whose  heresy,  it  was  stated,  had  found  no  entrance 
among  the  Friends  in  England,  the  late  yearly  meeting  having 
been  perfectly  unanimous  in  maintaining  the  doctrines  which 
Hicks  and  his  partisans  have  opposed.  The  conversation  also 
turned  on  the  subject  of  Unitarianism  generally ;  on  the  effects, 
in  various  particulars,  of  our  republican  institutions  in  America ; 
on  the  benefits  derived  from  our  rejection  of  any  established  re- 
ligion ;  and  on  the  progress  of  infidelity,  slavery,  etc." 

"  Saturday,  June  5. — Mr.  S.  Gurney's  family  were  convened 
this  morning,  including  seven  female-servants,  several  men-serv- 
ants, and  seven  children,  two  others  being  absent.  Mr.  Gurney 
read  a  chapter,  the  company  sitting  a  few  minutes  in  silence  both 
before  and  after  the  reading. 

"  This  place  was  the  residence  of  the  late  Dr.  Fothergill,  and 
is  as  beautiful  as  a  perfectly  level  plain  of  seventeen  acres  can  be 
made.     It  is  all  in  garden  and  grass,  and  has  a  large  hot-house 

Uem.Milnor.  24 


370  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

for  exotics,  and  another  exclusiYely  for  grasses ;  an  aviary  for  a 
,variety  of  birds ;  tame  deer  on  the  lawn ;  and  a  little  lake,  cov- 
ered vf'ith  waterfowl  of  several  kinds,  among  which  are  the 
largest  swan  that  I  have  seen  in  England,  several  beautiful  kinds 
of  ducks,  and  a  pair  of  spoonbills.  It  is  a  place  of  perfect  silence 
and  seclusion  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  population,  affording  both 
in  its  buildings  and  in  its  grounds  a  delightful  retreat  from  the 
noise  and  smoke  of  London,  and  every  comfort  that  wealth,  fam- 
ily union,  love,  and  Christian  piety,  can  yield." 

Upon  his  return  to  town  on  Saturday,  he  spent  the  day  in 
visiting  the  docks  and  the  Millbank  penitentiary,  having  letters 
from  Lord  Bexley,  the  governor  of  the  latter,  which  procured 
him  free  admission  and  a  full  survey  of  the  establishment,  under 
the  direction  of  an  intelligent  guide.  He  dined  again  with  his 
friend  Mr,  Ewbank,  of  Peckham ;  took  tea  with  Mr.  Lucas,  of 
New-Cross ;  and  in  the  evening  returned  to  his  lodgings  in  the 
city.  His  note  next  morning  opens  thfi  domestic  apartment  of 
his  heart. 

"  Sunday,  June  6. — In  the  religious  exercises  with  which  I, 
with  my  fellow-lodger,  Rev.  Geo.  A.  Smith,"  (lately  arrived  from 
the  United  States,)  "  began  our  preparation  for  the  public  duties 
of  the  day,  my  thoughts  were  turned  with  intensity  of  interest 
to  my  dear  family  and  flock  in  New  York.  They  are  indeed 
daily  with  me  in  my  contemplations  and  prayers  ;  and  it  is  the 
frequency  with  which  my  mind  dwells  upon  every  thing  con- 
nected with  their  temporal  and  spiritual  well-being,  that  prevents 
my  speaking  often  on  the  subject  in  my  journal ;  for  it  would 
fill  all  its  pages  if  I  were  to  note  the  various  thoughts — some- 
times full  of  hope,  at  others  checked  by  fear — which,  from  time 
to  time,  cheer  or  depress  me.  The  Lord  grant  that  a  special 
blessing  may  descend  upon  them  in  the  duties  of  this  day." 

After  this  note,  he  attended  morning  service  and  the  Lord's 
supper  at  St.  John's  chapel,  Bedford  Row,  and  enjoyed  a  precious 
season  under  the  ministry  of  his  friend  and  brother  the  Rev.  B. 
W.  Noel.  In  the  evening,  he  went  to  Longacre  chapel,  and  heard 
its  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howell,  a  preacher  of  such  strong 
Welch  accent  and  tone  as  to  render  it  somewhat  difficult  to 
apprehend  the  scope  of  his  discourse.  .: 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  371 

At  breakfast,  on  Monday  morning,  June  7,  with  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Phillips,  he  met  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dodsw^orth,  of  St.  Margaret's 
chapel,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Drummond,  both  high  Calvinists,  and 
both  high  advocates  for  the  doctrine  of  baptismal  regeneration,  in 
the  sense  of  a  spiritual  change  ensuring  the  salvation  of  its  sub- 
ject. Mr.  Dodsworth  was,  moreover,  a  strong  advocate  for  the 
exclusive  claims  of  the  established  Church.  In  the  amicable 
controversy  which  ensued.  Dr.  Milnor  repeatedly  involved  his 
opponents  in  inconsistencies  from  which  they  found  it  impossible 
fairly  to  extricate  themselves. 

One  of  his  entries  in  the  journal  for  Tuesday,  June  8,  shows 
the  stamp  of  his  morals  in  matters  of  business,  as  well  as  in 
matters   of  religion.      "  Received  a  letter   to-day,"  he  writes, 

"from  a  Mr.  ,  dated  Derby,  June  7,  in  which  he  states, 

that  a  benevolent  gentleman  in  his  neighborhood  was  about  to 
send  out  to  our  Tract  Society  a  set  of  stereotype  plates  of  a  work 
about  which  he  had  corresponded  with  Mr.  Hallock,"  our  secre- 
tary, "  and  inquires  whether  I  could  take  them  with  me  as  pas- 
senger's baggage,  in  order  to  avoid  the  heavy  duty  chargeable 
upon  them  in  the  United  States.  If  I  could  do  so,  he  requests 
me  to  return  an  immediate  answer.  If  not,  he  says  I  need  not 
write.  As  these  plates  are  unquestionably  dutiable,  and  as  pas- 
sengers' baggage  undergoes  the  official  inspection  of  the  custom- 
house, and  I  understand  the  passenger  also  makes  oath  that  he 
has  no  dutiable  articles  among  his  baggage,'  even  if  the  act  pro- 
posed were  not  morally  wrong,  I  could  not  accede  to  the  proposal. 
But  I  hold  any  contravention  or  evasion  of  the  revenue-laws  of 
my  country  to  be  morally  wrong ;  and  therefore,  if  I  could  by 
stealth  get  these  plates  to  their  destination  free  of  duty,  I  would 
not :  so  I  returned  wo  answer  to  the  letter." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  many,  if  we  were  to  give  Dr.  Mil- 
nor's  account  of  the  examination  which  he  conducted  on  Thurs- 
day, the  tenth  of  June,  of  the  parochial  schools  of  the  parish  of 
Islington,  containing  four  hundred  boys  and  two  hundred  girls ; 
but  it  is  too  long.  We  can  merely  say,  it  was  almost  wholly  a 
religious  examination ;  and  evinced,  that  while  the  pupils  had 
been  well  disciplined  in  all  ordinary  human  learning,  very  suc- 
cessful efforts  had  been  made  to  fill  their  minds  with  a  clear  comr 


372  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

prehension  of  "the  very  pith  and  marrow"  of  the  Gospel  of  their 
salvation.  Equally  interesting  to  some,  might  be  his  account  of 
a  visit,  made  in  the  evening,  to  the  House  of  Commons ;  listen- 
ing to  the  debates  of  that  stormy  and  disorderly  body  till  two 
o'clock,  Friday  morning.  But  this  would  be  but  a  repetition  of 
what  ordinary  readers  already  know  of  that  popular  branch  of 
the  British  Parliament. 

His  dinner  on  Friday,  was  again  with  his  beloved  brother  of 
Islington,  in  company  with  such  men  as  Dr.  Ryder,  Bishop  of 
Litchfield  and  Coventry  ;  Dr.  Sumner,  of  Chester ;  Lord  Bexley  ; 
Sir  George  Gray ;  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ryder,  brother  to  the  bishop ; 
Zachary  Macauley ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pearson,  author  of  the  Life  of 
Archbishop  Leighton;  and  Mr.  Mcllvaine.  After  dinner,  the 
company  proceeded  to  attend  the  anniversary  of  the  Islington 
Auxiliary  Church  Missionary  Society,  which  drew  together  a 
crowded  assemblage  of  the  inhabitants,  to  listen  to  several 
truly  interesting  addresses.  After  coffee  and  tea,  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock,  the  customary  religious  exercises  of  the 
family  were  enjoyed;  and  the  spirit  which  had  pervaded  the 
whole  proceedings  of  the  afternoon  and  evening,  was  so  sweetly 
Christian  as  to  prompt,  at  the  close  of  his  journal  for  the  day, 
the  brief,  but  emphatic  entry,  "  This  was  a  day  of  as  much  pure, 
rational,  and  religious  enjoyment,  as  any  that  I  have  spent  in 
England.     God's  name  be  praised." 

Mr,  Wilson's  influence  at  Islington  must  indeed  have  been 
as  blessed  as  it  was  "  unbounded."  On  Saturday  morning,  after 
having  spent  another  night  with  his  kind  entertainer.  Dr.  Milnor 
went  through  the  buildings  of  the  Church  Missionary  Institution 
at  Islington,  of  which  he  says,  "  There  are  now  under  instruction 
in  this  school  twenty-seven  students,  (the  buildings  will  accom- 
modate forty-five,)  taught  by  Mr.  Pearson,  professor  of  divinity ; 
Mr.  Ayre,  son-in-law  of  Legh  Richmond,  professor  of  classical 
learning ;  and,  for  four  months  in  each  year,  by  Mr.  Lee  of  Cam- 
bridge, as  professor  of  oriental  languages.  The  object  of  this 
establishment  is,  the  preparation  of  pious  young  men  of  good 
talents,  who  consider  it  their  duty  to  devote  themselves  to  the 
work  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen.  It  has  already 
sent  out  some  excellent  missionaries ;  and  I  pray  God  that  it 


\ 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  373 

may  become  a  mighty  engine  in  the  destruction  of  idolatry,  and 
in  the  extension  of  Christ's  kingdom,  especially  in  the  East. 

"  Besides  a  short  but  pleasant  interview  with  Mr.  Pearson, 
we  had  the  pleasure  of  being  introduced  to  the  amiable  and  pious 
daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  Richmond,  whose  letter  in  the  memoir 
of  her  father's  life  has  excited  so  much  interest.  She  informed 
us  that  the  family  have  it  in  contemplation  to  publish  a  volume 
of  his  papers  and  a  memoir  of  his  little  son  Wilberforce,  which 
he  had  not  completed  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

"  We  were  desirous  of  knowing  the  present  state  of  Mr.  Rich- 
mond's late  parish.  Mr.  Ayre  told  us  that  the  parish  church, 
which  used  to  overflow  with  worshippers,  had  not  now  in  general 
a  congregation  of  more  than  thirty  persons  ;  the  bulk  of  the  pop- 
ulation attending  at  two  dissenting  chapels.  The  religious  views 
of  the  new  rector  are  directly  opposite  to  those  of  Mr.  Richmond ; 
and  he  consequently  not  only  dissatifies  them  with  his  preaching, 
but  refuses  to  give  them  a  curate  of  evangelical  feelings  and 
views.  Yet  he  treats  Mr.  Ayre,  when  he  goes  to  Turvey,  with 
complaisance ;  invites  him  to  preach ;  expresses  approbation  of 
his  sermons ;  and  evinces  particular  pleasure  at  the  largo  congre- 
gations, which,  on  such  occasions,  assemble ;  and  when  the  last 
chapel  was  dedicated,  he  insisted  on  entertaining  the  dissenting 
ministers  in  attendance,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  the  blessing 
of  God  would  attend  their  undertaking." 

"At  two  o'clock,"  he  proceeds,  "  I  took  coach  for  Stoke-New- 
ington,  where  I  was  engaged  to  dine  with  William  Allen,  that 
leading  member  of  the  society  of  Friends,  so  well  known  both  as 
a  man  of  science  and  as  a  philanthropist.  He  has  a  beautiful 
retreat ;  the  '  new  river '  running  in  front  of  his  house,  and  the 
rear  being  adorned  with  a  fine  velvet  lawn,  a  delightful  garden, 
a  spacious  hot-house  for  his  large  collection  of  exotics,  and  an 
observatory,  with  a  telescope  for  his  astronomical  observations. 

"  I  was  glad  to  meet  there  that  singularly  benevolent  female, 
Hannah  Kilham,  who  has  compiled  several  books  on  an  original 
plan,  for  the  instruction,  in  their  own  language,  of  the  WoUofF, 
or  JollofF  tribe  of  negroes,  at  and  near  Sierra  Leone.  She  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  the  language  from  natives  brought  to 
England ;  and  then  embodied  her  information  in  several  element- 


374  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.    .  / 

ary  works,  designed  to  teach  the  Jolloffs  both  their  own  and  the 
English  language."  Hannah  Kilham  had  visited  Sierra  Leone 
twice  ;  and  though  she  had  nearly  fallen  a  victim  to  the  climate, 
intended  to  make  a  third  visit,  and  if  possible,  extend  her  travels 
to  Liberia,  with  a  view  to  prepare  herself  for  writing  similar 
books  in  the  Bassa  language. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  besides  presenting  me  with 
several  pamphlets,  of  which  he  is  the  author,  Mr,  Allen  commu- 
nicated to  me  his  plan  of  domestic  colonies,  by  the  establishment 
of  which  he  would  supersede  the  necessity  of  emigration  among 
the  poorer  classes.  His  plan  is,  to  give  them  agricultural  em- 
ployment, by  assigning  to  each  family  a  small  portion  of  land  at 
a  moderate  rent ;  they  undertaking  to  cultivate  it  according  to  a 
prescribed  method,  insuring  the  largest  product  at  the  smallest 
expense.  Besides  the  little  book  which  he  has  published,  enti- 
tled, '  Colonies  at  Home,'  he  has  exemplified  his  system  on  a 
farm  of  his  own,  at  Linfield,  forty  miles  from  London.  This  he 
has  divided  into  little  farms  of  five  acres  each,  and  smaller  lots 
of  an  acre  and  a  quarter,  on  which  are  erected  small  cottages ; 
and  in  the  vicinity  a  common  school  for  the  education  of  the 
children  of  the  cottagers,  who,  if  I  remember  rightly,  pay  each  a 
small  sum  per  week  for  the  instruction  of  each  child.  Mr.  Allen 
urged  me  to  visit  his  establishment,  which  I  regret  it  will  not  be 
in  my  power  to  do  before  I  leave  England  for  the  continent." 
V,;  This  visit  to  the  philanthropist  of  Stoke-Newington  had  well- 
nigh  proved  fatal  to  the  rector  of  St.  George's ;  for,  immediately 
after  the  foregoing  entry  in  his  journal,  he  writes  thus : 

"I  have  reason  to  be  very  thankful  to  the  special  providence 
of  a  gracious  God,  by  which  my  life  was  preserved  this  evening 
under  circumstances  which  put  me  in  the  utmost  peril  of  its 
loss.  A  servant  was  sent  to  take  places  in  the  London  coach  for 
Dr.  Pennock  of  Philadelphia  and  myself,  at  seven  o'clock;  but 
he  returned  with  an  answer  that  all  the  inside  seats  were  taken. 
We  therefore  concluded  to  ride  outside.  When  the  coach  came 
to  the  door,  it  appeared  that  one  inside  seat  was  still  vacant,  but 
I  declined  taking  it,  as  that  would  separate  me  from  Dr.  Pennock. 
While  he  was  taking  leave  of  Mr.  Allen  I  attempted  to  mount 
the  rear  outside  seat,  which  accommodates  two,  and  is  conven- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND..  375 

iently  separated  from  the  other  passengers.  When  I  reached  the 
entrance  to  the  seat,  I  found  it  too  confined  for  me  to  pass  through 
without  turning  sideways.  In  attempting  this,  I  was  obliged  to 
let  go  my  right  hand  hold;  as  I  did  so,  my  left  hand  gave  way, 
and  I  fell  immediately  to  the  ground  on  my  back,  a  distance  of 
ten  feet.  I  was  unable  to  rise  without  assistance,  and  was  con- 
veyed into  the  house,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  I  had  broken 
no  limb,  nor  received  any  material  contusion.  I  was,  however, 
most  dreadfully  strained  in  my  back  and  chest.  I  resisted  the 
importunity  of  the  kind  family  to  remain  during  the  night;  and, 
getting  into  the  coach,  rode  in  great  pain  to  town.  On  my  ar- 
rival, I  sent  for  a  physician  in  the  neighborhood,  who  took  from 
my  arm  twenty-two  ounces  of  blood,  prescribed  some  medicine, 
and  recommended  that  my  back  and  chest  be  rubbed  with  opo- 
deldoc. With  the  assistance  of  my  friend  Mr.  Smith,  this  was 
done ;  but  I  passed  a  most  painful  night." 

"Sunday,  June  13. — Found  myself  unable  to  rise  without 
assistance,  my  back  and  chest  being  in  such  a  state  as  obliged 
me  to  keep  as  still  as  possible.  I  was  to  have  taken  a  family 
dinner  to-day  with  our  ambassador,  Mr.  McLane ;  but  I  sent  an 
apology,  and  endeavored  to  improve  my  solitude  by  reading, 
meditation,  and  prayer."  ,  ■; 

"  Monday,  June  14. — I  have  passed  an  almost  sleepless  night, 
and  am  this  morning  in  much  pain.  We  had  intended  to  leave 
London  this  morning  for  Brighton,  and  thence  proceed  to  the 
continent;  but  my  situation  has  compelled  us  to  abandon  that 
intention.  Endeavored,  though  with  much  difficulty,  to  prepare 
some  dispatches  for  America.  Last  evening  had  been  unavoida- 
bly employed  until  a  late  hour  in  correcting  proofs  of  very  brief 
sketches  of  my  addresses  at  several  anniversaries,  to  be  inserted 
in  the  Christian  Register,  an  annual  publication  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  public  religious  meetings.  Went  to  bed,  worn  out 
with  fatigue,  and  suffering  exceedingly  with  bodily  pain.  Slept 
only  three  or  four  hours  during  the  night;  but  hope  I  had  no 
feelings  but  those  of  gratitude  to  God  that  matters,  after  such  a 
fall,  were  not  far  worse." 

"  Tuesday,  June  15. — Rose  in  considerable  pain,  and  so  stiff 
as  to  be  unable  to  walk  but  with  great  uneasiness.     Wrote  notes 


376  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  apology  to  the  Rev.  Henry  Raikes,  and  Joshua  Bates,  Esq.," 
excusing  himself  from  engagements ;  "  it  being  our  design,  if 
I  am  able  to  go  by  coach  to  the  steamer  to-morrow  morning,  to 
take  our  leave  of  London  for  Calais.  This  change  of  route  is 
induced  by  the  hope  that  rest  on  board  the  steamer  will  so  far 
recruit  my  health  as  to  enable  me  to  bear  the  subsequent  journey 
to  Paris.  Was  laboriously  engaged  in  various  matters  necessary 
to  be  attended  to,  before  taking  my  departure  from  London,  and 
went  to  bed  again  perfectly  worn  down  by  fatigue." 

"  Wednesday,  June  16. — Contrary  to  my  expectation,  Grod 
has  graciously  favored  me  with  a  comfortable  night's  rest ;  and 
though  still  very  stiff  and  sore,  I  have  ventured  to  take  coach  to 
the  steamer  for  Calais." 


SECTION  VII. 

Dr.  Milnor's  chief  object  in  visiting  Paris,  was  to  engage  an 
instructor  for  the  New  Yorlt  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb ; 
but  his  passage  to  Calais  came  as  near  putting  an  end  to  this 
and  all  his  other  designs,  as  his  late  Saturday  evening's  attempt 
to  mount  the  rear  outside  seat  of  Stoke-Newington  coach  for 
London.  The  first  note  in  his  journal,  after  entering  the  steamer, 
is  as  follows : 

"  The  Thames  was  crowded  with  vessels  of  all  descriptions ; 
so  that  if  the  habit,  for  weeks  past,  of  passing  in  coaches  and 
cabs  through  defiles  not  much  broader  than  the  carriage  itself, 
had  not  familiarized  me  with  the  seeming  danger,  I  should  have 
wondered  how  a  steamer  could  possibly  make  her  way  in  safety 
through  such  a  throng.  This,  however,  she  would  have  done, 
had  not  a  collier  vessel,  some  distance  ahead,  unexpectedly 
veered  round  so  as  to  bring  her  bowsprit  directly  across  our 
narrow  passage.  The  captain  of  our  boat  immediately  reversed 
the  engine,  at  the  same  time  hailing  the  collier  to  turn  his  bow- 
sprit out  of  our  way.  He  did  not,  however,  and  it  carried  away 
the  shrouds  of  our  hind- mast ;  when,  very  unexpectedly,  as  soon 
as  the  bowsprit  came  in  contact  with  it,  the  mast  itself  gave 


•      VISIT  TO  FRANCE.  377 

way,  and  fell  across  the  after-deck.  Messrs.  Mcllvaine  and  Smith 
and  myself  were,  at  the  moment,  standing  within  a  foot  or  two 
of  the  mast.  They  sprang  to  the  right  far  enough  to  escape  it, 
and  it  fell  to  the  left  of  me.  As  it  fell,  I  turned  round,  and  saw 
it  crush  several  of  the  passengers,  and  knock  one  boatman  over- 
board and  several  hats  into  the  water.  The  boatman  knocked 
overboard  was  saved  without  much  injury ;  but  another,  on  whom 
the  end  of  the  mast  fell,  was  killed,  and  the  wife  of  Admiral 
Rouse  was  taken  up  senseless.  She  bled  excessively,  and  at  length 
revived  sufficiently  to  be  put  into  a  boat  and  taken  ashore.  The 
agony  of  her  husband,  and  that  of  a  brother  of  the  deceased 
boatman,  were  indescribable.  One  other  lady  was  much  injured  ; 
but  several  of  the  passengers,  who  I  thought  were  crushed  be^ 
neath  the  mast,  were  in  fact  uninjured,  having  merely  crouched 
beneath  its  descent,  which  was  arrested  by  the  companion-way. 
Thus  the  result,  melancholy  as  it  was,  proved  more  favorable 
than  we  anticipated.  Melancholy  indeed  was  it  for  the  poor 
man  so  suddenly  called  into  eternity,  if  unprepared  for  the  awful 
change.  It  was  a  consideration  of  most  serious  import,  as  well 
as  of  grateful  acknowledgment,  that  within  a  very  few  days,  I 
should  have  been  twice  exposed  to  imminent  peril  of  death,  and 
yet  have  been — I  pray  God  it  may  be  for  some  good  purpose — 
twice  preserved." 

They  had  a  smooth  passage  across  the  channel,  and  reached 
Calais  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  on 
which  they  left  London,  and  Paris  at  ten  o'clock  the  Friday  even- 
ing following ;  noticing  only  the  ordinary  features  of  the  coun- 
try as  they  passed,  and  the  mendicity  which  to  such  a  great 
extent  prevails.  Dr.  Milnor  writes,  "  Whenever  the  diligence 
stopped,  even  at  night,  we  were  assailed  by  beggars.  The  cry 
everywhere  was,  '  Ah !  pauvre  miserable !  Monsieur,  quelque 
chose !  tres  miserable  !'  At  every  hill,  where  the  slow  progress 
of  the  vehicle  admitted  importunity,  we  were  followed  by  old 
men,  women,  and  children.  This  arises  from  the  fact,  that  in 
this  country  ho  public  provision  is  made  for  the  poor." 

On  Saturday,  June  19,  the  travellers  took  an  exterior  view  of 
Paris,  Dr.  Milnor  closing  his  brief  journal  for  the  day  with  the  fol- 
lowing note:  "I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  describe  particularly 


378  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

all  the  public  places  which  we  have  seen ;  as  this  is  already  done 
by  so  many  travellers,  and  far  better  than  I  can  do  it  from  such 
casual  observation."  The  spirit  of  this  remark  will  apply  to 
most  of  his  journal  while  in  France.  "We  shall  not  therefore 
attempt  minutely  to  follow  his  course  in  this  country.  A  few  of 
his  notes,  however,  are  worth  preserving. 

Returning  from  a  third  Protestant  service  on  Sunday,  June 
20,  he  passed  the  Catholic  church  of  St.  Roch ;  and  as  it  was  still 
open,  evidently  for  some  public  service,  he  entered,  and  had  an 
opportunity  of  witnessing  a  most  gorgeous  exhibition  of  the 
ritual  of  the  Romish  church,  in  "  the  Fete  Dieu."  After  describ- 
ing a  scene  in  which  at  least  sixty  performers  were  engaged,  and 
which  was  closed  by  a  well-dressed  lady  going  round  and  solicit- 
ing from  each  an  offering  "  pour  repose  " — or  for  redeeming  souls 
out  of  purgatory — ^he  gives  utterance  to  his  feelings  in  the  fol- 
lowing strain : 

"  Now,  in  all  this  parade  of  worship,  in  this  superb  church 
maintaining  such  a  retinue  of  ecclesiastical  functionaries,  and 
lasting  from  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  till  after  nightfall,  not 
one  word  of  edification  was  addressed  to  the  assembled  multitude ; 
but  the  whole  was  conducted  in  a  language  unknown  to  by  far 
the  greater  part,  and  with  all  the  idle  pageantry  of  heathenism. 
0  when  shall  '  Babylon  the  great,  the  mother  of  harlots  and 
abominations  of  the  earth,'  be  destroyed  ?  Hasten  this  event,  0 
Lord,  in  thy  time." 

In  his  many  wanderings  about  Paris,  he  once  found  himself 
in  the  vaults  beneath  the  Pantheon,  where  he  observed  a  remark- 
able phenomenon.  "There  is,"  says  he,  "in  these  vaults,  a  most 
Wonderful  echo.  Standing  at  the  end  of  one  of  the  passages,  it 
responded,  not  as  usual  the  last  word  of  a  sentence,  but  the 
whole,  as  articulately  as  we  ourselves  uttered  it.  Our  attendant, 
striking  the  skirt  of  his  coat  with  a  ratan,  produced  a  sound  like 
near  and  very  loud  thunder,  and  by  some  variation  of  his  strokes, 
the  effect  of  the  loud  firing  of  cannon.  A  part  of  us  remaining 
at  this  spot,  and  the  remainder  going  off  in  the  windings  of  the 
passage  to  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet,  we  could 
converse  together  in  a  whisper,  and  even  the  rubbing  of  the  hand 
on  the  coat-sleeve  could  be  heard  at  the  same  distance."     A  part 


VISIT  TO   FRANCE.  379 

of  this  description  reminds  us  of  such  worship  as  he  had  before 
witnessed  at  the  church  of  St.  Roch.  So  far  as  the  effect  of  such 
worship  on  the  multitude  is  concerned,  it  is  but  echo  in  dark 
vaults  artificially  lighted,  and  imposingly  reverberating  upon  won- 
dering ears  the  rattle  of  ratans  and  the  rustling  of  coat-sleeves; 

On  Tuesday,  June  22,  Dr.  Milnor  called  on  the  following  gen- 
tlemen for  the  purpose  of  delivering  letters  of  introduction,  most 
of  whom  were  at  home  and  received  him  courteously.  Bishop 
Luscomb,  Mr.  Lutteroth,  Professor  Kieffer,  Mr.  Curtis,  an  Ameri- 
can merchant,  M.  Monod  fils,  Mr.  Wainwright,  cousin  of  Dr. 
Wainwright,  Mons.  Le  Compte  Ver.  Huell,  and  Mons.  Le  Duo 
De  Broglie. 

"  Professor  KiefFer,"  he  remarks,  "  received  me  in  his  library 
with  great  kindness,  and  tendered  me  any  service  in  his  power 
during  my  stay  in  Paris.  My  valet  acted  as  interpreter,  the 
professor,  though  able  to  read  English,  not  venturing  to  speak  it. 
He  handed  me  the  last  monthly  extracts  of  the  British  and  For- 
eign Bible  Society ;  pointed  to  my  address,  which  he  was  so  kind 
as  to  say  he  had  read  with  great  pleasure,  and  added,  he  waS  de- 
lighted to  hear  of  the  resolution  of  the  American  Bible  Society, 
pledging  a  general  supply  of  the  sacred  Scriptures — a  measure 
which  they  find  it  difficult  to  accomplish  among  the  scattered 
Protestants  of  France.  I  was  very  favorably  impressed  with  the 
piety  and  meekness  of  this  distinguished  scholar  and  Christian." 

Wednesday,  June  23,  after  walking,  till  his  feet  were  sore, 
"over  the  intolerable  pavements  of  Paris,"  he  felt  "considerable 
pain,  the  remaining  effect  of  his  fall,  both  in  his  left  shoulder  and 
in  his  chest,  especially  when  he  became  fatigued  with  walking." 
Nor  was  this  all,  for  he  goes  on  to  say,  "  Both  my  friend  McB- 
vaine  and  myself  find  a  great  vacuum  here,  which  we  did  not 
feel  in  London.  There,  though  we  occupied  a  part  of  the  time 
in  seeing  what  was  curious  and  novel,  we  yet  had,  almost  daily, 
the  association  and  converse  of  the  pious ;  something  to  relieve 
that  secularity  of  feeling  to  which  the  mind  is  prone.  But  here, 
we  are  deprived  of  that  enjoyment.  We  endeavor  to  supply  its 
place  as  well  as  we  can,  by  uniting  regularly,  every  morning 
and  evening,  in  reading  the  Scriptures,  religious  conversation, 
and  prayer,  in  our  little  parlor.     But  we  do  not  feel  desirous  of 


380  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

prolonging  our  stay  in  France.  No  person  unacquainted  with 
the  language,  can  have  the  same  satisfaction  with  one  who  can 
speak  French.  Considering,  therefore,  the  intended  shortness  of 
our  stay,  we  have  taken  little  pains  to  form  acquaintance ;  and 
after  we  have  seen  such  objects  as  principally  merit  attention, 
we  shall  take  our  leave  of  Paris  without  regret." 

On  Thursday,  June  24,  Dr.  Milnor  addressed  himself  to  the 
object  of  his  visit — the  engagement  of  a  competent  teacher  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum  in  New  York.  Accordingly,  he 
visited  the  asylum  in  Paris,  had  an  interview  with  its  principal, 
the  Abbe  Borel,  and  opened  with  him  the  necessary  negotiations. 
■  On  Sunday,  he  attended  church  in  the  morning  at  the  Brit- 
ish embassy,  and  heard  Bishop  Luscomb  preach ;  and  in  the 
afternoon  preached  for  the  bishop,  in  the  church  of  the  Oratoire. 
At  five  o'clock,  he  dined  with  the  bishop,  "  whose  easy,  uncon- 
strained hospitality,  and  interesting  conversation,  detained  his 
guests  till  between  nine  and  ten."  "He  is,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "a 
very  high  churchman,  but — ^though  to  be  tolerated  in  England 
for  the'  present,  as  a  necessary  evil — strongly  opposed  to  the 
union  of  church  and  state.  He  has  had  considerable  controversy, 
or  rather  epistolary  discussion,  with  the  bishop  of  London,  re- 
specting the  claim  of  the  latter  to  jurisdiction  over  all  English 
Episcopal  churches  in  foreign  countries.  The  claim  he  deems  to 
be,  as  it  certainly  is,  preposterous,  when  applied  to  churches  not 
situated  in  British  colonies  or  provinces ;  but  for  peace'  sake,  and 
to  secure  a  certain  pecuniary  aid  which  the  government  affords 
these  churches,  he  has  so  far  acquiesced  in  the  claims  of  the 
bishop  of  London  as  to  grant  licenses  to  ministers,  subject  to  his 
approbation,  which  is  always,  as  a  matter  of  course,  accorded. 
Almost  all  the  Episcopal  churches  in  France  and  the  Nether- 
lands, have  acknowledged  the  Episcopal  superintendence  of 
Bishop  Luscomb.  Mr.  Way's  chapel,  in  the  Hotel  Marboeuf, 
which  is  his  private  property,  forms  a  somewhat  galling  excep- 
tion, as  his  congregation  embraces  some  of  the  most  respectable 
Episcopalians  in  Paris.  Our  American  ambassador's  family  alji^ 
tend  that  chapel,  because  they  prefer  the  more  evangelical  style 
of  preaching  which  prevails  there,  as  well  as  its  more  agreeable 
situation.     Perhaps,  too,  etiquette  may  interpose  some  objection 


VISIT  TO  FRANCE.  381 

to  an  attendance  on  the  morning  service  at  the  British  embassy ; 
and  the  Oratoire  is  neither  a  pleasant  church,  nor,  for  the  Eng- 
lish and  American  population,  conveniently  situated." 

"  In  the  evening,"  he  continues,  "  about  bedtime,  I  was  at- 
tacked with  a  slight  paroxysm  of  gout  in  my  right  foot,  which 
occasioned  me,  during  the  night,  considerable  loss  of  sleep." 

"  Monday,  June  28. — My  foot  was  somewhat  painful  this  morn- 
ing ;  but  being  under  an  engagement  to  meet  the  director  of  the 
Royalr  Institution  for  the  instruction  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  I 
took  a  carriage,  and  called  on  Mr.  Warden,  late  American  con- 
sul, who  accompanied  me  to  the  asylum.  The  director  informed 
me  that  he  had  consulted  several  teachers  respecting  my  propo- 
sition, and  that  a  young  gentleman,  of  about  23  years  of  age, 
was,  he  believed,  willing  to  engage.  I  inquired  respecting  his 
natural  talents,  his  literary  acquirements,  his  capacity  for  the 
instruction  of  the  deaf  and  dumb,  the  amiableness  of  his  temper, 
and  his  moral  character.  On  all  these  points,  the  director  gave 
the  fullest  assurances  in  favor  of  the  young  man,  declaring  that 
his  talents  and  acquirements  were  far  beyond  his  years ;  that  he 
was  fully  acquainted  with  the  French  system,  and  an  excellent 
practical  instructor  ;  that  his  disposition  was  extremely  amiable ; 
and  that  his  moral  character  was  unsullied.  He  added,  that 
he  should  consider  his  departure  from  the  school  a  great  loss; 
but  for  the  sake  of  the  young  man,  he  was  willing  to  part  with 
him. 

"  All  this  passed  through  Mr.  Warden,  as  interpreter,  before 
the  candidate  himself  made  his  appearance.  His  sister,  who 
could  speak  a  little  English,  accompanied  him ;  and  to  her  I  de- 
tailed, in  answer  to  her  inquiries,  and  to  his  through  her,  every 
particular  of  the  agreement  which  I  was  willing  to  make  with 
him.  My  offer  was  $800  salary,  with  board,  washing,  and 
lodging ;  his  expenses  to  Havre,  and  his  passage  out ;  and  an 
advance  of  money  commensurate  with  his  outfit.  In  answer  to 
inquiries  about  religion,  I  stated  that  we  were  Protestants,  and 
that  the  instruction  of  our  pupils  would  be  Protestant;  but 
that  we  should  not  interfere  with  his  personal  enjoyment  of  his 
own  faith. 

"  The  young  lady  spoke  English  tolerably  well,  and  was  re- 


382  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

markably  intelligent.  He  had  paid  some  attention  to  our  lan- 
guage, but  could  not  speak  it.  He  said,  that  if  he  concluded  to 
go,  all  the  intervening  time,  until  his  arrival  in  America,  should 
be  applied  to  the  cultivation  of  the  English  language,  in  which 
his  sister  was  satisfied  he  would  soon  become  a  proficient.  She 
stated  that  he  was  now  engaged  in  translating  a  German  book 
into  French ;  and  the  director  informed  me  that  his  father  was 
an  author  of  some  note.  He  is  to  give  me  his  answer  at  my 
hotel  on  Thursday  morning,  at  9  o'clock." 

After  this  engagement,  he  indiscreetly  took  a  pedestrian  ex- 
cursion to  Pere  la  Chaise.  "  The  state  of  my  foot,"  he  observes, 
"was  not  improved  by  our  protracted  walk  through  those  beautiful 
grounds.  We  returned  very  much  fatigued ;  but  being  under  an 
engagement  to  spend  the  evening  at  the  house  of  our  ambassador, 
Mr.  Rives,  we  repaired  thither,  and  were  very  kindly  and  unosten- 
tatiously received  and  entertained  by  him  and  his  excellent  lady. 
I  met  there  M.  Serrurier  and  his  lady,  whom  I  had  known  in 
"Washington  as  the  ambassador  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  Madame  Serrurier  was  then 
only  seventeen  years  of  age.  She  is  still  a  beautiful  woman,  in 
the  bloom  of  life ;  but  he  is  so  much  altered  that  I  should  not 
have  known  him.  It  seemed  to  be  agreeable  to  him  to  have  met, 
thus  incidentally,  with  an  American  acquaintance ;  for  he  pro- 
fessed to  remember  me,  though  so  many  years  had  passed.  He 
made  numerous  inquiries  about  men  and  things  in  Washington, 
and  our  country  generally ;  with  which,  by  the  by,  he  showed 
himself  more  familiar  than  most  of  the  gentlemen  with  whom  I 
conversed  in  England.  I  suffered,  the  whole  evening,  violent 
pain  in  my  foot,  but  made  no  complaint ;  though,  upon  taking 
my  leave,  I  was  unable  to  get  to  the  carriage  without  assist- 
ance.". 

"  Tuesday  Morning,  June  29. — ^I  am,  this  morning,  in  a  state 
of  complete  disability  for  locomotion,  and  consequently  have  to 
remain  at  home,  and  that  in  much  pain."  Of  his  sufferings  in 
the  evening  he  writes,  the  next  day,  "My  foot  was  so  exceedingly 
painful  and  sore,  that  I  was  compelled  to  resort  to  laudanum ; 
and  though  I  took,  in  three  doses,  150  drops,  yet  I  obtained  no 
sleep,  nor  abatement  of  pain,  tiU  near  daylight  of  Wednesday, 


V^^       OF  THE 
VISIT  TO  FRANCE.  ((U  N  I  V  ffsS- S  I^  Y 

June  30th."     When  he  awoke,  however,  he  wasX^^yiJpQJJ^^'^  *>^ 
lieved,"  although  his  foot  was  excessively  swollen  and 

Thursday  morning,  July  1,  though  suffering  still,  he  received, 
according  to  appointment,  M.  L.  Vaysse,  the  proposed  instructor 
for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  accompanied  by  his  father  and  sister,  and 
concluded  with  him  the  terms  of  an  engagement  as  an  instructor 
in  the  New  York  asylum. 

During  the  evening  of  this  day,  he  received  a  visit  from  M. 
Monod  fils,  pastor  of  the  Protestant  French  church  which  meets 
in  the  Oratoire,  and  had  with  him  a  long  conversation,  which 
threw  much  light  on  the  state  of  religion  at  that  day  in  France. 
But  since  that  period,  light  has  become  so  much  fuller,  so  many 
changes  in  France  have  occurred,  and  so  much  knowledge  of  her 
changes  has  been  disseminated,  that  his  remarks  would  now 
appear  quite  behind  the  times. 

The  next  three  days  he  spent  in  the  quiet  of  his  room,  re- 
ceiving a  few  visitors,  writing  letters,  and  on  Sunday,  July  4, 
penning  reflections  on  American  freedom,  and  on  the  liberty 
wherewith  the  Son  makes  free. 

On  Monday,  after  receiving  various  visitors,  and  transmitting 
sundry  documents  of  business  to  institutions  in  America,  from 
which  he  had  brought  commissions,  Dr.  Milnor  dined  with  Mr. 
Vaysse  senior,  in  company  with  five  French  gentlemen,  none 
of  whom  understood  English.  Through  his  amiable  interpreter 
Miss  Vaysse,  however,  he  collected  the  substance  of  their  conver- 
sation, which  was  principally  on  the  "very  critical  state  of  the 
country."  "  The  elections,"  says  his  journal,  "  which  are  now 
going  on,  it  is  generally  agreed,  will  terminate  in  the  choice  of  a 
majority  of  deputies  of  the  liberal  party.  This  will  compel  the 
king  to  change  his  ministry,  or  come  to  an  open  rupture  with  the 
lower  house ;  for  it  is  said,  they  will  withhold  supplies,  unless 
their  wishes  are  complied  with.  The  gentlemen  of  our  circle  at 
dinner,  profess  to  be  inclined,  in  general,  to  the  views  of  the  lib- 
eral party,  at  least  so  far  as  to  wish  a  change  of  ministers,  as  the 
best  means  of  quieting  the  feelings  of  the  nation.  But  they  la- 
ment the  violence  of  some  of  the  journals,  and  also  the  excesses 
that  have  taken  place  in  some  of  the  departments ;  and  deprecate 
ajiy  direct  opposition  to  the  executive  government,  as  likely  to 


384  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

bring  back  the  horrors  of  the  Revolution.  An  old  gentleman 
present,  recently  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Journal  des  Debats, 
was  twice  condemned  to  be  guillotined,  and  once  an  actual 
account  of  his  decapitation  was  published." 

In  truth,  they  were,  without  knowing  it,  on  the  eve  of  the 
historic  "three  days"  of  July,  1830 — a  convulsion  which  heaved 
Charles  X.  from  his  throne,  and  threw  upon  the  brow  of  Louis 
of  Orleans  the  crown,  not  of  France,  but  of  "the  French." 

Having  described  the  pursuits  and  productions  of  his  five 
fellow-guests,  "for  all  the  company  were  literary  men,"  Dr, 
Milnor  adds,  "  I  had  a  specimen  of  a  real  French  dinner ;  and 
while  I  was  surprised  at  the  needless  variety  of  unknown  condi- 
ments, and  the  protracted  use  of  them,  I  was  much  more  aston- 
ished at  the  immense  quantity  of  food  which  each  guest  devoured, 
and  at  their  copious  libations  of  various  light  wines.  Our  din- 
ner— ^the  eating  part  of  it,  I  mean — lasted  from  seven  till  after 
nine  o'clock ;  and  when  the  eating  was  over,  all  was  over :  for 
the  gentlemen  and  ladies  immediately  retired  together  to  the 
drawing-room,  where  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  small  glass  of  eau  de 
vie — of  the  latter,  of  course,  as  a  temperance  man,  I  did  not 
partake — closed  the  evening's  repast."  >' 

In  order,  however,  to  a  correct  idea  of  French  dinners,  the 
reader  should  know  the  character  of  French  cookery  and  French 
wines.  Their  dishes  contain  much  less  nutriment  than  those  of 
the  English;  and  the  wines  of  the  country,  of  which  the  French- 
man drinks  so  copiously,  are  generally  far  less  exciting  than  the 
ordinary  wines  of  commerce.  Still,  the  French  are  liberal  con- 
sumers of  food,  and  their  dinners  are  wasteful  consumers  of  time. 

On  Tuesday  he  visited  that  monument  of  the  splendid  ex- 
travagance of  the  grand  Monarque,  the  palace  of  Versailles ; 
despatched  various  business  matters ;  and,  with  regrets  at  being 
unable,  in  consequence  of  his  long  confinement,  to  return  the 
many  civilities  which  he  had  received,  addressed  notes  of  apology 
to  those  who  had  paid  them.  Thus  prepared,  he  took  his  de- 
parture from  Paris.  His  return  course  lay  through  Rouen,  and 
by  way  of  Dieppe  to  Brighton,  on  the  south  coast  of  England. 
He  left  Paris,  Wednesday,  July  7,  and  reached  Brighton,  Satur- 
day, July  10,  early  in  the  morning. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  385 


SECTION  VIII. 

With  his  companions  in  travel,  Mcllvaine  and  Smith,  he 
passed  directly  from  Brighton,  through  Portsmouth,  to  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  and  spent  the  Sabbath  of  the  next  day  at  Ryde.    : 

"  It  was  cheering,"  he  says,  "on  this  beautiful  morning,  after 
the  bad  weather,  and  miserable  roads,  and  half-starved  horses, 
and  crazy  carriages,  and  dirty  villages,  and  desolate*  fields  of 
France,  to  find  ourselves  in  a  well-constructed  stage-coach,  drawn 
by  elegant  horses,  as  neatly  caparisoned  as  those  of  a  nobleman's 
private  carriage,  over  roads  perfectly  dry  and  smooth,  through 
towns  neatly  built,  and  a  country  richly  variegated  with  delight- 
ful scenery,  and  studded  with  buildings,  some  of  beautiful,  and 
almost  all  of  comfortable  appearance.  The  comparison  certainly 
places  France  far  behind  England  in  the  career  of  improvement." 

After  reaching  the  Isle  of  Wight,  he  evidently  spent  one  of 
his  most  comfortable  and  heavenly  Sabbaths,  under  the  ministry 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sibthorpe,  and  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hatchard,  vicar  of  Plymouth ;  and  he  gave,  in  his  journal,  very 
full  notes  of  the  two  sermons  which  the  former  preached,  and 
which  demonstrated  him  to  have  been  at  that  time  as  far  as  any 
man  living  from  the  views  of  Dr.  Pusey  and  the  Church  of  Rome. 
His  subsequent  lapse  into  those  views  forms  one  of  the  most 
melancholy  chapters  in  the  history  of  the  evangelical  men  of 
England. 

Speaking  of  his  Sabbath  in  Ryde,  Dr.  Milnor  remarks,  "This 
was  a  delightful  day  to  myself  and  my  friends.  What  a  contrast 
to  the  business,  and  bustle,  and  noise  of  Paris,  the  quiet  of  this 
pleasant  town  and  peaceful  isle ;  to  the  defiling  superstitions  of 
popery,  the  chaste  worship  of  our  Church ;  and  to  the  senseless 
pomp  and  pageantry  of  their  corrupt  and  miserable  forms,  the 
pure  Gospel  as  preached  by  a  gifted  minister  of  God  I" 

It  is  well  known  that  one  of  the  very  important  principles 
adopted  for  its  guidance  by  the  American  Tract  Society,  is  that 
of  publishing  no  narrative  Tract  which  is  not  substantial  truth. 

*  This  refers  to  the  fenceless,  hedgeless,  and  treeless  condition  of  large 
portions  of  the  rich  lands  of  France. 

Mem.  Milnor.  20 


386  -  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

One  of  Dr.  Milnor's  objects,  therefore,  in  visiting  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  was  to  verify,  if  it  admitted  of  verification,  the  descrip- 
tive part  in  the  narrative  of  that  incomparably  useful  tract,  the 
Dairyman's  Daughter,  by  Legh  Richmond ;  as  well  as  that  of  the 
Young  Cottager  and  the  African  Servant,  by  the  same  "almost 
hallowed"  pen.  To  the  Christian  reader,  therefore,  this  part  of 
his  journal  assumes  more  than  its  usual  interest,  and  will,  for 
this  reason,  be  more  closely  followed. 

"Monday,  July  12. — The  Rev.  Mr.  Sibthorpe  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hulme  kindly  proposed  to  accompany  us  to-day  on  a  part  of 
our  ride  through  the  island.  They  went  in  a  one-horse  vehicle, 
and  we  with  a  fine  pair  of  horses  and  an  excellent  coach,  imme- 
diately after  breakfasting  with  Mr.  Sibthorpe.  And  now,  at  the 
close  of  our  journey,  I  find  myself  utterly  incompetent  to  de- 
scribe the  scenes  of  natural  grandeur  and  beauty  through  which 
we  have  this  day  passed.  I  had  often  read  and  heard  of  them; 
but  the  reality  every  way  surpassed  the  expectation  which  I  had 
formed. 

"  The  town  of  Ryde,  where  we  spent  the  last  two  nights,  and 
enjoyed  so  sweet  a  Sabbath,  is  opposite  Portsmouth.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  the  side  of  a  hill  of  considerable  elevation,  and  affords  a 
fine  view  of  Portsmouth,  its  celebrated  harbor,  and  several  other 
important  naval  stations  in  its  neighborhood.  Some  of  the  houses 
of  Ryde  are  elegant,  and  present  a  neat  appearance,  with  great 
attention,  on  the  part  of  their  occupants,  to  the  cultivation  in 
front  and  around  them  of  trees  and  shrubbery;  a  species  of  orna« 
ment  so  easy,  and  aifording  so  great  an  addition  to  the  beauty 
of  a  dwelling,  that  one  is  surprised  it  should  be  anywhere  neg- 
lected. Yet,  in  all  the  villages  which  we  saw  in  France,  the  odor 
of  filth  and  mud  seemed  more  agreeable  to  their  inhabitants  than 
that  of  flowers ;  and  a  glaring  sunshine,  when  it  could  be  had, 
than  the  relief  which  the  English  think  is  afforded  by  overshad- 
owing foliage. 

"At  the  commencement  of  our  ride,  the  weather  looked  a 
little  inauspicious ;  but  it  soon  cleared  off,  and  became  very  pleas- 
ant, though  the  temperature  is  exceedingly  cool  for  the  season. 
Our  road  was  not  very  broad,  but  it  was  smooth  and  winding, 
bordered  on  each  side  by  luxuriant  hedges,  and  often  by  lofty 


MISSION   TO   ENGLAND.  387 

trees.  Its  serpentine  course  was  produced  by  its  conforming,  in 
a  considerable  degree,  to  that  of  the  beach,  along  which,  until  we 
passed  the  village  of  Bonchurch,  and  tuj-ned  more  inland  towards 
Arreton  and  Newport,  it  principally  lay.  The  circuitous  course 
of  the  road  over  hill  and  dale  sometimes  conducted  us  close  to 
the  water's  side,  and  gave  us  a  full  view  of  the  noble  harbor  of 
Portsmouth,  in  the  first  part  of  our  ride,  and  subsequently  of  the 
great  Atlantic ;  and  at  other  times,  receding  a  little,  and  causing 
a  temporary  interruption  of  our  prospect  by  intervening  hills,  it 
only  increased  our  delight  at  emerging  again  to  some  more  ex- 
tensive view.  Every  one  knows  how  a  change  of  position  will 
alter  the  appearance  of  a  landscape,  and  disclose  at  every  turn 
new  beauties.  Here  we  enjoyed  this  pleasure  in  a  high  degree ; 
and  besides  seeing  every  object  in  a  variety  of  views,  new  scene- 
ry, which  the  pen  of  a  Richmond  could  describe,  though  mine 
cannot,  was  continually  bursting  on  our  sight.  We  noticed  a 
beautiful  building  in  the  form  of  a  castle,  and  of  recent  erection, 
the  seat  of  Lord  Vernon ;  and  another  on  a  lofty  hill,  belonging 
to  Sir  Richard  Simeon ;  and  within  three  miles  of  Ryde,  six  or 
eight  other  country-seats  of  various  architecture,  yet  all  seeming 
to  harmonize  with  the  delightful  and  enchanting  scene  around. 

"  Soon  after  passing  Helen's  Green,  a  small  village  of  neat 
cottages,  we  saw  the  tower  of  its  old  church,  on  which  the  sea 
encroached  till  it  was  abandoned  to  ruin,  and  another  was  built 
in  a  safer  position.  We  soon  came  to  Brading  harbor,  which,  at 
high  tide,  forms  a  lake  of  several  miles  in  extent ;  but  at  low 
water,  is  an  uncovered  flat.  The  tide  flows  in  through  a  narrow 
inlet,  which  we  crossed  in  a  small  boat,  our  carriage  being  taken 
over  in  a  larger.  We  walked  up  the  hill  on  the  side,  opposite  to 
Bem bridge  chapel,  recently  built  by  a  Mr.  Wise,  and  in  whicli  an 
excellent  clergyman.  Sir  Henry  Thompson,  officiates.  We  re- 
gretted our  disappointment  in  not  seeing  the  incumbent,  to  whom 
Mr.  Sibthorpe  was  desirous  of  introducing  us. 

"We  were  now  approaching  Brading,*  where  Legh  Rich- 
mond commenced  his  ministry ;  were  passing  through  the  rich 

•  The  journal,  from  this  point  till  the  travellers  reached  Newport,  was, 
soon  after  Dr.  Milnor's  return,  presented  to  the  American  Tract  Society  as  a 
part  of  his  report  to  that  institution. 


388  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

and  delightful  scenery  which  he  so  tastefully  describes  ;  and 
were  about  to  behold,  and  in  some  instances  to  press^  with  our 
footsteps,  those  almost  hallowed  spots,  where  occurred  the  events, 
the  memory  of  which  he  has  perpetuated  in  those  admirable 
tracts,  the  Young  Cottager,  the  African  Servant,  and  the  Dairy- 
man's Daughter. 

"  "We  had  these  invaluable  narratives  with  us,  and  employed 
ourselves  in  reading  such  parts  of  them  as  were  specially  calcu- 
lated to  direct  our  attention  to  the  several  places  which  he  does 
not  name,  but  describes  with  such  fidelity  to  nature  that  the 
observant  traveller  needs  no  other  guide  to  point  them  out. 

"  I  am  glad  that  we  can  bear  our  testimony  to  the  accuracy 
of  his  descriptions,  because  many  have  supposed  them  to  be 
principally  fancy ;  and  on  this  account,  much  that  adds  greatly 
to  the  interest  of  the  narrative,  and  is  highly  instructive  in  show- 
ing the  Christian  with  what  religious  feelings  the  works  of  the 
great  Creator  should  be  viewed,  and  to  what  profitable  use  their 
contemplation  may  be  applied,  has,  in  many  editions  of  them, 
been  omitted.  Though  not  so  intended  by  the  curtailers  of  these 
tracts,  the  retrenchment  is  yet,  in  my  opinion,  an  injustice  to 
their  lamented  author,  and  an  injury  to  the  narratives  them- 
selves. A 
"  On  arriving  at  Brading,  we  drove  directly  to  the  church- 
yard, where  are  interred  the  remains  of  '  Little  Jane,'  the  young 
cottager.  Several  children  were  playing  near  the  gate ;  and  I 
asked  a  fine-looking  little  girl  if  she  could  show  us  the  grave  of 
Jane.  '  0  yes,'  she  said,  and  advanced  before  us  as  our  guide. 
After  conducting  us  to  the  grave,  over  which  we  stood  for  some 
time  in  silent  but  affecting  meditation,  she  said  she  would 
'show  us  the  verses  on, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry's  tombstone,  what 
Jane  had  got  by  heart  and  repeated  to  Mr.  Richmond.'  '"Well, 
my  dear,'  said  I,  '  the  reading  of  these  verses  helped  Jane  to  be- 
come a  good  girl  and  to  die  happy,  did  it  not?'  She  answered, 
'  Yes,  sir,'  as  she  did  my  next  inquiry,  whether  she  woufd  try  to 
be  as  good  a  girl,  and  die  as  happy  as  little  Jane. 

"  The  epitaphs  which  little  Jane  committed  to  memory,  espe- 
cially that  on  Mr.  Berry's  tombstone,  which  was  probably,  under 
God,  the  means  of  her  first  serious  impressions,  are  both  pious 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  889 

and  affecting;  and  their  influence  on  the  mind  of  this  youthful 
candidate  for  heaven,  shows  what  simple  instruments  the  Holy 
Spirit  often  employs  to  accomplish  the  conversion  of  the  soul 
to  God. 

"  From  the  graveyard  we  went  into  the  church,  a  very 
ancient  structure,  not  less,  the  sexton  assured  us,  than  eleven 
hundred  years  old.  It  has  been  enlarged  since  its  first  erection, 
and  is  remarkable  for  nothing  in  its  interior  but  two  singular 
tombs  with  wooden  effigies  of  the  deceased ;  several  plainer,  but 
apparently  very  old  monuments  of  stone  ;  and  a  most  helter- 
skelter  and  inconvenient  arrangement  of  the  pews.  Its  location, 
however,  is  at  once  sequestered,  and  near  the  village,  above 
which  it  is  slightly  elevated.  The  parsonage,  a  comfortable- 
looking  abode,  is  immediately  adjacent  to  the  churchyard. 
From  the  church,  the  view  of  Brading  Haven,  the  bay  beyond, 
the  elevated  hill  on  the  right,  and  the  sloping  bank  on  the  left, 
with  the  other  scenery  described  by  Mr.  Richmond  in  'The 
Young  Cottager,'  as  seen  from  this  spot,  are  all  just  as  there 
represented. 

"  On  our  way  from  Brading  to  Sandown  Bay,  the  prospects 
were  variegated  and  pleasing ;  and  as  we  passed  the  fort,  we 
emerged  upon  one  of  the  grandest  views  of  the  ocean  through 
the  bay,  that  we  had  yet  seen.  Here  was  pointed  out  to  us  the 
high  Down,  which  Mr.  Richmond  describes  in  '  The  African 
Servant,'  the  perpendicular  cliff  in  which  it  terminates,  and  the 
jutting  rock,  under  which  he  discovered  and  so  interestingly 
conversed  with  his  sable  companion.  Nothing  can  be  more  true 
to  nature  than  his  descriptions,  in  that  tract,  of  the  surrounding 
scenery.  "We  saw  the  cottage  of  the  celebrated  John  Wilkes,  in 
the  garden  of  which  are  flourishing  several  rosebushes  said  to 
have  been  planted  by  his  own  hands. 

"We  then  proceeded  to  the  village  of  Shanklin,  consisting 
of  a  few  neat  cottages,  and  stopped  at  a  residence  bearing 
nothing  of  a  tavern  aspect,  but  affording  us  the  refreshment 
which  we  needed — some  excellent  cold  roast  beef  and  lobsters. 
After  lunch,  we  walked  down  to  what  is  called  Shanklin  Chine^ 
a  large,  romantit)  fissure,  or  chasm,  in  the  cliff  that  fronts  upon 
the  sea.     The  descent  to  the  beach  is  by  an  ordinary  road ;  and 


390  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MiLNOR. 

then  you  return  through  the  chine  to  the  village.  No  descrip- 
tion extant  of  this  singular  spot  is  either  so  beautiful  or  so  mi- 
nutely accurate,  as  that  given  by  Mr.  Richmond  in  '  The  Young 
Cottager,'  as  one  of  his  places  of  solitary,  religious  meditation. 
We  occupied  the  same  '  little  hollow  recess  in  the  cliff,'  from 
which  he  surveyed  and  delineated  the  surrounding  scenery.  We 
there  read  deliberately  his  graphic  description  of  the  various 
interesting  objects  that  lay  before  him,  and  could  discern  no 
difference  between  it  and  the  noble  scene  jn  actual  view,  save 
that  a  mist  hid  from  us  the  '  towering  spire '  of  Chichester  cathe- 
dral ;  that  in  these  peaceful  times,  we  beheld  no  '  frigate  stand- 
ing into  the  bay ;'  and  that  but  a  few  vessels  of  any  size  happened, 
at  that  moment,  to  enliven  the  prospect.  We  lingered  long  upon 
and  near  the  beach,  and  then  proceeded  up  the  chine,  along  the 
side  of  which  the  fishermen  have  Cut  a  convenient  footpath, 
with  a  resting-place  or  two  by  the  way,  where  an  interesting 
point  of  observation  happened  to  present  itself.  Several  neat 
cottages,  with  small  gardens,  have  been  built  within  the  fissure, 
each,  of  which,  while  sheltered  from  the  weather  by  its  lofty 
sides,  and  embowered  amid  the  rich  foliage  of  shrubs  and  over- 
hanging trees,  enjoys  at  the  same  time  an  extensive  prospect  of 
the  sea. 

"  Returning  to  the  village,  we  resumed  our  carriage,  and 
passing  by  the  neat  old  church  of  Shanklin,  came  to  Bonchurch 
village,  quietly  seated  on  what  is  called  '  the  underclifF:' "  This, 
as  its  name  implies,  is  a  cliff  under  a  cliff.  For  a  considerable 
distance,  the  road  runs  along  the  top^  and  at  times  near  the  brink 
of  one  clifT  which  rises  directly  above  the  sea  ;  while,  for  the  same 
distance,  it  runs  along  the  base  of  another  cliff,  which  rises,  a 
few  rods  inland,  perpendicularly  above  the  traveller's  head.  The 
singular  wildness  of  this  scene  may  be  judged  from  the  circum- 
stance, that  the  upper  cliff  towers,  at  some  points,  near  a  thou- 
sand feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  "  We  got  out  of  the  car- 
riage, and  proceeded  along  the  brink,  for  the  sake  of  the  view 
which  it  presented  of  some  exquisite  scenery  not  before  disclosed. 
Below  the  village,  we  threaded  our  way  down  a  footpath  to  the 
road,  and  got  into  our  carriage;  our  course  now  lying  up  an  in- 
land valley,  between  gently  sloping  but  lofty  hills  on  either  side. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND;  391 

Landscapes  of  peculiar  beauty  and  variety,  exhibiting  number- 
less fields  of  grain,  nearly  ripe  for  the  harvest ;  herds  of  cattle, 
and  flocks  of  sheep,  with  here  and  there  a  company  of  haymakers, 
busily  employed,  presented  themselves  in  ever-changing  aspects, 
as  we  ascended  or  descended  the  successive  slopes  of  this  delight- 
ful valley. 

"  "We  had  long  in  sight,  and  at  length  passed,  at  some  dis- 
tance, the  splendid  seat  and  extensive  park-grounds  of  Lord  Yar- 
borough,  called  Appuldercomb.  Travellers  have  given  rapturous 
descriptions  of  the  interior,  and  its  rich  collections  of  paintings 
and  sculpture.  Of  these,  we  shall  probably  never  have  a  sight; 
but  it  was  commended  to  our  notice  by  circumstances  of  a  very 
different  kind.  It  was  there  that  the  sister  of  '  the  dairyman's 
daughter'  died,  whose  funeral  Mr.  Richmond  attended,  at  the 
request  of  the  latter ;  and  it  was  there,  that  about  a  week  after, 
he  had  his  first  conversation  with  her  whoso  religious  experience, 
as  narrated  by  that  faithfal  minister,  has  had  a  more  extensive 
influence  in  the  world  than  ever  attended  any  similar  publi- 
cation. 

"  He  gives,  in  '  The  Dairyman's  Daughter,'  a  correct  account 
of  the  situation  and  appearance  of  Appuldercomb,  and  of  the 
surrounding  scenery.  We  saw  '  the  summit  of  the  hill  adjoin- 
ing' the  venerable  mansion,  to  which  he  ascended  after  the  visit 
just  referred  to ;  and  the  triangular  pyramid  of  stones,  near  which 
he  sat  down  to  meditate  ;  and  the  magnificent  prospect  which  lay 
around  him.  In  full  view  of  this  elevated  spot,  we  read  his 
extended  description,  and  turned  southward  and  southeastward, 
and  northward  and  westward,  and  admired,  as  he  had  done,  the 
unequalled  beauty  of  the  scene.  Certainly  neither  of  us  had 
ever  read  the  descriptive  part  of  '  The  Dairyman's  Daughter ' 
with  the  like  interest  and  emotion.  My  feelings  obliged  me  to 
resign  the  bobk  to  my  companions ;  and  under  the  various  emo- 
tions excited  by  the  narrative  and  the  scene,  it  was  difficult  for 
any  of  us  to  prosecute  our  reading;  but  with  an  intensity  of 
interest,  we  gazed  upon  the  lovely  prospect  until  it  could  be  no 
longer  seen. 

"We  now  approached  Arreton,  the  village,  in  the  church- 
yard of  which  lie  interred  the  mortal  remains  of  Elizabeth  Wall, 


392  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

bridge,  the  sainted  daughter  of  the  dairyman.  About  a  mile 
from  it,  we  stopped  before  the  cottage  from  which  her  soul  as- 
cended to  its  rest,  and  were  kindly  received  by  her  surviving 
brother,  a  man  now  advanced  in  years,  and  still  a  resident  in  the 
cot  of  his  birth.  He  showed  us  Elizabeth's  Bible,  in  which  was 
simply  written,  '  Elizabeth  Wallbridge,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  Wallbridge ;  born  1771,  died  1801.'  He  also  took  us 
up  stairs  into  the  room  in  which  she  expired.  We  added  our 
names  to  a  long  list,  in  a  book  kept  by  her  brother  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  then  took  our  leave,  Mr.  Wallbridge  in  a  very  respect- 
ful manner  thanking  us  for  our  visit. 

"  Our  simplicity  in  finding  satisfaction  in  such  a  visit,  would 
be  a  fruitful  subject  of  derision  to  men  of  the  world ;  but  if  they 
will  indulge  our  simplicity,  and  we  can  enjoy  feelings  such  as 
these  scenes  excited,  let  them  laugh :  we  will  delight  in  every 
thing  calculated  to  cherish  the  memory  of  the  pious  dead. 

"On  leaving  the  cottage,  our  path  was  the  same  with  that 
over  which  moved  the  funeral  procession  of  the  dairyman's 
daughter,  in  the  manner  so  affectingly  described  by  Mr.  Rich- 
mond. It  lay  along  a  narrow  but  excellent  road,  winding  be- 
tween high,  green  hedges,  and  sometimes  under  an  arch  formed 
by  the  trees  on  either  side ;  a  lofty  cultivated  hill  on  the  right, 
and  a  charming  view  of  the  luxuriant  valley  now  and  then  break- 
ing upon  us  to  the  left.  As  we  read  the  account  of  the  solemn 
passage  of  the  mourning,  yet  rejoicing  relatives  and  friends  of 
the  deceased,  we  were  almost  ready  to  realize  its  actual  vision, 
and  to  hear  the  pious  strains  of  melody,  as  they  filled  the  air  and 
ascended  to  the  skies. 

"  Thus  prepared,  we  reached  Arreton  church ;  and  leaving 
our  carriage  to  ascend  the  hill  without  us,  we  went  to  the  grave 
of  Elizabeth  ;  read  the  beautiful  lines,  which  love  of  her  charac- 
ter and  the  recollection  of  her  triumphant  death  have  caused  to 
be  inscribed  on  her  simple  monument ;  meditated  awhile  on  her 
present  glorious  state  ;  dropped  a  tear  of  sympathy  but  tiot  of 
sorrow,  and  silently  retired. 

"From  this  to  Newport,  our  resting-place  for  the  night,  we 
could  talk  on  none  but  things  connected  with  the  scenes,  and  in- 
cidents, and  reflections  of  the  day  ;  uniting  in  the  sentiment  that 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  393 

Paris,  with  all  its  palaces,  and  gardens,  and  paintings,  and  stat- 
ues,  had  afforded  no  such  gratification  to  our  eyes  as  the  glorious 
works  of  God,  on  which  they  had  dwelt  in  this  enchanting  island ; 
and  none  of  its  multiplied  attractions,  such  an  inward  feast  as  the 
religious  associations  of  this  day's  travel  had  supplied." 

A  sudden  and  unexpected  return  of  Mr.  Mcllvaine's  illness 
prevented  the  party,  for  a  few  days,  from  prosecuting  their  tour 
round  the  island.  In  the  meantime.  Dr.  Milnor  visited  old  Caris- 
brook  castle,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Newport,  with  its  ancient 
Roman  well,  and  the  ruins  of  the  chamber  in  which  the  ill-fated 
Charles  I.  was  a  prisoner  ;  and  spent  a  day  in  crossing  over  from 
Cowes  to  Southampton,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  his  friend  Mrs. 
Gilliat,  and  of  obtaining  letters  from  home,  which  he  had  ordered 
to  be  sent  thither  from  London.  After  a  pleasant  visit  with  his 
friend  and  her  family,  though  without  finding  the  letters  which 
he  expected,  he  returned  to  Newport  on  Thursday,  July  15,  the 
day  appointed  for  the  funeral  of  George  IV As  bis  fellow-trav- 
eller, Mr.  Mcllvaine,  was  still  too  sick  for  journeying.  Dr.  Milnor 
and  his  remaining  companion,  Mr.  Smith,  resolved  upon  the  west- 
ern tour  of  the  I^le  of  Wight.  Accordingly,  on  Friday  morning, 
immediately  after  breakfast,  they  took  a  carriage,  and  favored 
with  a  beautifully  cool  summer's  day,  set  forth  on  their  pleasant 
jaunt. 

"  Our  road,"  says  the  journal,  "  lay  through  Carisbrook,  a 
village  adjacent  to  Newport,  and  remarkable  for  little  save  the 
pleasantness  of  its  situation,  the  neatness  and  rural  decorations 
of  its  dwellings,  and  the  fine  view  which  it  presents  of  the  vener- 
able ruin,  Carisbrook  castle,  already  described.  As  seen  in  pass- 
ing along  the  road,  one  has  a  much  higher  idea  of  the  ancient 
importance  of  this  castle  as  a  place  of  military  defence,  as  well 
as  a  much  more  interesting  view  of  its  ivy-mantled  gateway,  its 
lofty  round  towers,  the  fragments  of  its  gray  walls,  in  great  part 
buried  in  foliage,  and  the  elevated  keep,  from  which  we  had  en- 
joyed so  delightful  a  survey  of  the  beautiful  country  around  it. 
Our  host  at  Newport  informed  us  that  the  mayor  of  that  city  is, 
by  immemorial  usage,  sworn  into  office  in  the  chapel  of  the  cas- 
tle. The  present  mayor  is  the  clergyman  of  the  church  in  New- 
port, and  I  presume  a  good  officer,  from  the  fact  of  our  host's 


394  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

complaining  of  him  as  '  ruling  the  publicans  of  the  city  with  a 
rod  of  iron.'  One  thing  is  certain :  during  the  time  which  we 
have  spent  in  his  jurisdiction,  there  has  been  every  appearance 
of  the  utmost  quiet  and  order.  We  have  seen  no  drunken  men, 
or  mendicants;  have  heard  no  profarle  language;  nor  witnessed 
the  least  disorder  of  any  kind.  The  stillness  of  the  place  has 
been  very  propitious  to  the  recovery  of  my  sick  friend. 

"  We  continued  our  ride  through  the  village  of  Shorwell, 
which  has  a  pretty,  antique  church,  and  near  which  we  passed 
a  cottage  of  the  larger  size,  literally  buried  in  ivy,  no  part  of  the 
building  being  visible,  save  the  doors  and  windows.  It  is  aston- 
ishing with  what  luxuriance  this  plant  grows  in  England ;  how 
it  seems  to  love  stone  walls ;  and  how  greatly  it  adds  to  the  pic- 
turesque appearance  of  the  buildings  which  it  invests. 

"  Soon  afterwards,  a  magnificent  view  of  the  ocean  broke  sud- 
denly upon  us,  as  we  cleared  a  high  verdant  bank  by  which  it 
„  had  hitherto  been  intercepted.  We  passed  through  the  village  of 
Brixton,  in  which,  as  in  Shorwell,  the  principal  objects  of  interest 
were  its  antique  little  church  and  its  comfortable  cottages  imbed- 
ded in  the  greenest  foliage.  Again  the  sea  was  hidden  from 
view,  and  again  it  appeared  in  all  its  grandeur,  as  we  passed  over 
hill  and  dale  in  this  enchanting  ride*  A  little  way  from  Brixton, 
we  passed  through  the  hamlet  of  Mattisone,  lying  at  the  foot  of 
a  high  down,  and  then  through  another,  called  Brooke,  quietly 
recessed  in  a  deep  valley  between  tvw  lofty  downs,  its  church  be- 
ing honored  with  a  more  elevated  site  just  without  the  cluster 
of  cottages  which  shelter  the  worshippers. 

"After  leaving  Brooke,  our  road,  in  its  continual  windings, 
conducted  us  over  several  very  elevated  tracts,  called  Shalcombe, 
Compton,  and  Afton  Downs,  on  which  are  numerous  flocks  of 
sheep,  apparently  thriving  on  the  short  pasturage  which  these 
tracts  afford.  Except  such  parts  of  them  as  have  been  gradually 
brought  under  cultivation,  they  are  generally  without  tree  or 
shrub,  the  soil  being  a  light  loam  on  a  substratum  of  chalk. 
They  are,  no  doubt,  generally  susceptible  of  cultivation  ;  but  un- 
til thus  improved,  they  serve  principally  for  sheep-pastures,  and 
for  gratifying  travellers  with  uninterrupted  prospects  of  the  most 
varied  and  extensive  character.  - 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  395 

"  Our  ride  over  Afton  Down  brought  us  to  Freshwater-gate, 
the  inappropriate  name  of  a  very  interesting  spot,  which  forms 
one  of  the  great  objects  of  attraction  to  this  part  of  the  island. 
We  stopped  at  an  inn  upon  the  beach,  and  tjhe  tide  being  down, 
were  able  at  once  to  enter  a  large  cavern,  a  few  hundred  yards 
off,  in  the  face  of  a  very  high  cliff.  Its  principal  opening  towards 
the  sea  is  under  a  natural  archway  thirty  feet  high,  and  about 
the  same  width  ;  and  it  extends  into  the  rock  above  an  hundred 
feet.  There  are  other  chasms  in  the  vicinity,  of  smaller  dimen- 
sions. 

"  To  the  north  from  this  place,  lies  a  range  of  chalky  cliffs  of 
great  height,  often  exactly  perpendicular,  and  sometimes  over- 
hanging the  ocean  with  a  terrific  frown.  After  viewing  the  caves 
at  Freshwater-gate,  we  resumed  our  carriage,  and  by  a  circuitous 
road  of  about  three  miles,  reached  the  lighthouse  on  Needles'- 
point.  This  is  a  singular  promontory,  extending  from  the  main 
body  of  the  island  into  the  sea,  and  lashed  on  either  side  by  its 
waves.  The  whole  of  the  scenery  here  presented  is  truly  grand 
and  impressive.  After  a  full  enjoyment  of  it,  we  returned  to  our 
carriage,  and  proceeded  back  to  the  inn  at  Freshwater-gate,  and 
then  returned  to  Newport  by  a  different  road  from  that  travelled 
in  the  morning.  On  this  road,  we  passed  through  a  finely  culti- 
vated country,  and  in  view  of  many  elegant  mansions,  the  seats 
of  the  nobility  or  gentry  who  spend  part  of  their  time  on  this 
fascinating  island." 


SECTION   IX. 

The  party  left  Newport  on  Saturday,  the  17th  of  July,  and 
proceeded  to  Southampton ;  passing  that  exquisitely  beautiful 
ruin,  Netley  Abbey,  standing  near  the  right  shore  of  Southamp- 
ton Water,  about  three  miles  below  the  town.  That  day,  and 
the  succeeding  Sunday,  were  cold,  blustering,  and  stormy.  In 
his  room,  Sunday  morning,  while  the  storm  was  raging  without, 
Dr.  Milnor  thus  writes : 

"  May  the  Lord  give  me  peace  within,  by  renewed  evidences 


396  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  his  pardoning  love,  and  by  the  communication  of  larger  meas- 
ures of  his  sanctifying  grace.  May  he  graciously  accept  my 
prayers  for  the  dear  family  and  the  beloved  flock  at  home,  and 
make  this  his  hallowed  day  a  blessing  to  their  souls ;  and  may 
he,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  prepare  me  and  my  companions  for  a  right 
engagement  in  the  solemn  duties  of  the  sanctuary,  and,  to  use 
the  language  of  this  day's  collect,  '  pour  into  our  hearts  such  love 
towards  him,  that  we,  loving  him  above  all  things,  may  obtain 
his  promises,  which  exceed  all  that  we  can  desire,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.' " 

Monday,  19th,  the  party  rode  to  Winchester,  and  after  view- 
ing, and  confessing  his  inability  to  describe  its  ancient  cathedral. 
Dr.  Milnor  remarks,  "  We  attended  the  evening  service  at  three 
o'clock,  and  heard  the  choir  chant  the  hymns  and  the  psalter. 
The  prayers  were  read  in  recitative.  On  the  whole,  we  plain 
American  Episcopalians  found  but  little  to  admire,  either  in  the 
music  or  in  the  worship  of  this  splendid  church.  An  anthem, 
sung  in  the  course  of  the  prayers,  might,  so  far  as  the  music  was 
concerned,  be  considered  an  exception." 

From  the  cathedral,  they  went  to  visit  the  famous  Winches- 
ter school,  founded  by  William  of  Wykeham,  and  still  kept  under 
the  iron  rule  of  its  founder's  times.  It  dates  from  the  close  of 
the  fourteenth  century. 

"  The  school-room,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "  which  holds  two  hun- 
dred pupils,  has  a  lofty  ceiling,  but  is  not  only  destitute  of  all 
ornament,  but  mean  and  inconvenient  in  its  arrangements. 
Only  a  few  have  the  accommodation  of  a  desk  for  writing.  The 
rest  straddle  their  rude  benches,  and  write  on  little  chests, 
brought  from  their  chambers  and  placed  on  the  bench  before 
them.  The  attention  of  the  tyro,  on  entering  this  school,  will 
soon  be  attracted  to  the  ominous  capitals  on  the  wall,  ornament- 
ed with  the  likeness  of  a  hand- whip, 

ic  (  ^^j^  disce,  aut  discedk  : 
Manet  sors  tertia — Cjedi.'* 

"  The  play-ground  is  not  large,  and  neither  there,  nor  any- 
where within  the  close,  are  the  boys  allowed  to  wear  their  hats. 

*  "  Either  learn,  or  leave : 

A  third  lot  remains — ^be  flogged." 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.-  397 

In  the  open  yard  is  a  reservoir  of  spring  water  with  half  a  dozen 
cocks,  where  the  junior  pupils  perform  their  ablutions,  and  then 
carry  water  in  their  basins  into  the  chambers  of  their  seniors,  to 
whom  they  are  fags;  in  other  words,  menial  servants.  It  is 
astonishing,  that  so  brutal  and  unnecessary  a  practice  should  be 
continued  ;  or  that  parents  of  respectability  should  be  willing  to 
place  their  children  under  the  tyranny  of  the  older  pupils,  who 
may  chastise  them  with  stripes,  if  they  disobey. 

"  We  were  shown  the  dormitories.  Several  boys  occupy  the 
same  chamber.  They  have  but  little  of  the  appearance  of  com- 
fort. The  boys-  are  not  allowed  tea  or  coffee,  their  breakfast 
being  bread  and  beer.  Their  dining-room  is  a  spacious  apart- 
inent,  with  a  very  narrow  table  placed  around  the  sides ;  and 
they  eat  off  of  small  boards  or  trenchers,  each  about  eight  inches 
square.  The  prefects — some  of  the  senior  pupils  having  that 
title — are  allowed  plates,  unless  when  the  official  visitors  are 
present,  and  then  the  trenchers  supply  their  place.  The  guide 
told  us  that  the  pupils  sometimes  by  stealth  make  tea  and  coffee, 
and  provide  other  comforts  at  their  own  expense,  in  their  rooms ; 
and  he  thought  the  practice  was  rather  winked  at ;  but  if  these 
superfluities  came  under  the  notice  of  their  teachers,  they  were 
taken  away."  Admirable  discipline  for  a  false  theology,  breeding 
in  the  young  bone  and  sinew  those  inseparable  concomitants, 
abject  submissive ness  and  Jesuitical  secrecy. 

"  Certain  pupils  called  '  candlemen' — from  some  office  which 
they  hold,  in  the  superintendence  of  lights — have  the  privilege 
of  six  pounds  each  of  corned  beef  per  day,  for  lunch.  This  they 
usually  give  away  among  the  other  boys.  To  the  head  prefect, 
I  think,  belongs,  as  a  perquisite,  the  value  in  money  of  the  ra- 
tions of  such  pupils  as  are  allowed,  on  Saturday  or  Sunday,  on 
special  leave,  to  dine  with  their  friends.  A  large  covered  chest, 
called  '  the  tub,^  receives  the  rations  of  any  boys  who  do  not  at- 
tend at  dinner,  and  also  what  is  left  of  their  meal ;  and  the  con- 
tents of  '  the  tub '  are  sent,  five  days  in  the  week,  to  the  county 
prison,  and  two  days  to  certain  poor  widows  called  '  sisters,'  con- 
nected with  the  cathedral.  Seventy  boys  are  on  the  foundation ; 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty  are  commoners,  who  have  a  separate 
sleeping  apartment. 


398  '  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"The  chapel,  where  the  full  morning  service  is  performed, 
and  the  pupils  attend  on  AVednesday  and  Friday  forenoons,  is  a 
handsome  apartment,  and  ornamented  with  a  large  painted  win- 
dow, lately  renewed.  The  library  has  also  a  painted  window, 
and  contains  a  neat  collection  of  books.  A  very  large  Bible  is 
shown,  in  two  volumes,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Onslow,  formerly  speaker 
of  the  House  of  Commons :  the  boys  call  it  '  the  vinegar  Bible,' 
from  its  having,  at  the  top  of  one  of  its  pages,  '  the  parable  of 
the  vinegar,''  instead  of  '  vineyard.'  There  is  also  here,  on  a 
roller,  the  pedigree  of  William  of  Wykeham,  by  a  learned  monk, 
who,  no  doubt,  expended  immense  labor  on  this  inglorious  pro- 
duction ;  for  he  has  traced  the  ancestry  of  the  distinguished  pre* 
late  up  to  our  first  parents,  who,  in  all  their  nudity,  are  placed 
at  the  head  of  this  unprecedented  achievement  of  antiquarian 
research. 

"  The  cloisters  are  a  Gothic,  quadrangular,  covered  walk, 
around  which,  in  olden  times,  the  monks  are  supposed  to  have 
pursued  their  meditative  perambulations.  Many  bodies  have 
been  deposited  beneath  these  pavements ;  and  monuments,  both 
ancient  and  modern,  are  spread  over  their  walls. 

"  The  pupils  attend  service  twice  every  Sunday  at  the  cathe- 
dral. The  vacation  of  six  weeks  had  just  commenced,  so  that 
we  had  no  opportunity  of  seeing  either  teachers  or  pupils ;  but 
the  school  has  a  high  reputation,  and  has  prepared  for  the  uni- 
versity (chiefly  that  of  Oxford)  some  of  the  greatest  men  that 
have  adorned  the  English  annals." 

From  "Winchester,  they  passed  through  Salisbury  to  Exeter. 
Of  this  city,  the  journal  remarks,  "  Being  the  emporium  of  this 
part  of  England,  it  is  a  lively  place,  and  rendered  more  so  at 
present  by  one  of  those  nuisances  and  nurseries  of  vice,  a  fair. 
We  went,  this  morning,  (Wednesday,  July  21,)  to  the  cathedral 
service,  which,  like  that  at  Winchester,  was  attended  by  only 
two  or  three  persons  of  respectable  appearance,  and  a  few  of  the 
poor  brethren  and  sisters,  besides  the  persons  actually  engaged  in 
the  services.  These  were  two  clergymen,  who  divided  the  duty, 
six  men  singers,  and  ten  boys. 

"It  is  to  me  a  matter  of  surprise  that  so  much  should  be 
thought  of  cathedral  chanting,  on  the  score  of  its  music.     There 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  399 

is  such  a  sameness,  such  a  long  reiteration  of  the  same  cadences, 
that  it  tires  the  ear,  and  becomes  fatiguing  to  the  spirit.  The 
fact,  too,  that  these  are  paid  performers,  and  that  there  is,  in 
most  of  them,  an  absence  of  devotional  feeling,  gives  the  whole 
an  air  of  formality  and  lip-service,  which,  notwithstanding  the 
solemnity  of  the  place,  very  much  diminishes  its  effect.  I  sup- 
pose the  thought  will,  by  some,  be  considered  quite  puritanical. 
But  I  could  not  help  wishing  that  such  noble  structures  as  these 
English  cathedrals  might  be  devoted  to  more  practical  purposes, 
and  rendered  more  subservient  to  the  great  end  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ — the  salvation  of  perishing  sinners.  As  these  daily  ser- 
vices are  conducted,  they  approximate  much  too  nearly  the  pag- 
eantry and  formality  of  the  Romish  church,  and  have  but  little 
in  connection  with  the  interests  of  evangelical  piety." 

"The  monuments,  ancient  and  modern,  spread  throughout 
this  edifice,  are  numerous.  There  is  one  of  a  prelate,  who  at- 
tempted to  fast  during  the  whole  of  Lent,  and,  it  is  said,  actually 
did  so  until  the  thirty-eighth  day,  when  he  died.  An  effigy  on 
his  tomb  exhibits  his  appearance  after  death.  It  is  the  ghastly 
figure  of  a  skeleton !  A  similar  instance  of  fatal  superstition  is 
commemorated  in  the  same  manner  on  a  tomb  in  Salisbury  ca- 
thedral, though  that  devotee  died  on  the  thirty-first  day.  Query  : 
Will  piety  of  intention  in  such  cases  acquit  the  victims  of  the 
guilt  of  suicide  ?     Scit  Deus,  non  ego^     [God  knows,  not  I.] 

On  Thursday,  July  22,  the  travellers  left  Exeter,  via  Tiver- 
ton, Barnstaple,  and  Ilfracombe,  and  along  the  south  shore  of 
Bristol  channel,  to  Bristol  city.  We  give  a  few  of  Dr.  Milnor's 
notes  on  his  passage  through  this  picturesque  region. 

"  We  arrived  at  Ilfracombe  at  dusk,  in  the  heaviest  fog  that 
I  have  seen  since  my  first  landing  in  England.  The  road  between 
Barnstaple  and  Ilfracombe  is  a  turnpike,  cut  at  an  immense  ex- 
pense, along  the  side  of  a  hill,  and  requiring  a  wall  for  its  support, 
on  the  lower  side,  almost  the  whole  distance.  It  passes  along  a 
deep  valley  between  high  hills,  though  at  a  considerable  height 
above  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  following  on  a  perfect  level,  all 
the  windings,  some  of  them  very  short,  of  the  hill  along  the  side 
of  which  it  pursues  its  devious  course.  In  some  instances,  the 
steep  and  lofty  hills  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley  were  culti- 


400  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

vated  to  their  very  summits ;  but  for  many  miles  they  were  cov- 
ered with  fine  plantations  of  forest-trees,  thickly  set,  and  their 
tops  often  so  uniform  in  height  as  to  resemble  the  surface  of  a 
field  of  grass." 

"  In  passing  through  the  English  villages,  one  is  sometimes 
amused  with  the  signs  which  they  exhibit.  A  tailor,  for  instance, 
informs  the  public,  that  he  '  makes  all  sorts  of  ready-made  cloth- 
ing ;'  and  a  grocer,  that  he  is  '  licensed  to  hrew  and  sell  beer, 
spirituous  liquors,  and  tobacco^  " 

"  The  situation  of  Ilfracombe  is  singular.  It  lies  on  the  Bris- 
tol channel,  embosomed  on  all  sides  by  lofty  hills,  except  a  narrow 
opening  to  the  water,  which  affords  an  entrance  into  a  sheltered 
and  commodious  harbor  for  vessels  of  250  tons  burden.  It  is  a 
natural  basin,  the  only  artificial  improvement  being  a  stone  pier, 
on  one  side  of  the  entrance,  running  a  short  distance  into  the 
channel,  principally  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  sand  at  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor.  At  low  tide,  as  we  saw  it,  the  recession  of 
the  water  leaves  the  vessels  high  and  dry  on  the  sand. 

"  In  the  circle  of  hills  around  Ilfracombe,  those  lying  inland 
are  loftier  than  those  which  rise  from  the  beach,  and  afford  de- 
lightful sites  for  dwelling-houses,  commanding  a  full  view  of  the 
whok  interesting  scenery,  and  of  the  channel  and  ocean  beyond. 
Along  the  summit  of  the  chain  of  hills  which  rise  immediately 
from  the  water,  a  path  has  been  made  which  forms  a  charming 
promenade,  in  fine  weather,  for  the  visitors  who  resort  to  Ilfra- 
combe— for  Ilfracombe  is  a  watering-place  of  some  note,  and  the 
number  of  taverns  and  lodging-houses  indicates  that  it  is  not  a 
little  frequented.  Some  of  the  private  residences  on  the  heights 
have  a  fine  appearance,  and  few  finer  than  that  which  was 
pointed  out  as  the  residence  of  Mr.  Bowen,  the  rector  of  the 
parish.  '' 

"  The  church,  as  might  be  expected,  occupies  a  very  romantic 
spot.  It  is  on  a  hill,  rather  difficult  of  access  to  the  aged  and 
infirm,  yet  surrounded  by  hills  still  higher  than  its  own,  which 
protect  it  from  storms  and  tempests.  The  safety  of  its  position 
cannot  be  questioned,  for  it  is  said  to  have  stood  already  for 
1,200  years.  It  is  a  truly  venerable  structure,  carefully  kept  in 
repair,  and  of  late  greatly  improved  in  its  interior. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  401 

"  We  left  Ilfraoombe  in  a  postchaise  about  mid-day,  and  for 
three  miles  retraced  our  yesterday's  route  on  the  turnpike." 

"As  we  advanced,  we  were  again  enveloped  in  a  thick  fog, 
until  we  approached  Linton,  the  scenery  around  which  we  were 
particularly  desirous  of  seeing.  It  now  broke  away,  and  per- 
mitted us,  as  we  descended  without  intermission  a  winding  slope 
of  at  least  two  miles,  to  survey  a  most  romantic  succession  of 
ever-varying  views.  Immense  hills,  some  affording  pasturage 
for  innumerable  sheep,  others  cultivated  to  the  very  tops  ;  vales 
of  enchanting  beauty,  and  occasionally  the  most  picturesque 
clusters  of  buildings  at  the  bottom  of  the  deepest  glens,  or  on  the 
steep  sides  of  the  adjacent  acclivities,  as  our  road  turned,  now  in 
one  direction,  now  in  another,  attracted  our  admiration.  Sud- 
denly, a  full  view  of  the  channel,  presenting  here  the  appearance 
of  a  sea,  broke  upon  us  through  a  deep  valley  on  our  right,  at 
the  termination  of  which,  and  close  to  the  beach,  is  seated  the 
little  town  of  Ly mouth.  Its  appearance,  from  the  vast  height 
which  we  occupied  above  it,  was  pleasing  as  it  was  singular. 
Several  of  its  white  houses,  being  new  and  of  very  tasteful  con- 
struction, added  to  its  beauty.  A  turn  to  the  left  brought  us,  by 
a  short  ascent,  to  the  town  of  Linton;  the  position  of  which, 
notwithstanding  our  long  descent  towards  it,  was  still  high- 
above  the  water,  and  commanded  an  almost  boundless  prospect. 
It  has  a  small  church :  and  from  the  churchyard,  the  view  of 
Lymouth  beneath ;  the  wide  expanse  of  water  in  front ;  the  hills 
and  vales,  with  their  various  appendages,  on  either  side ;  and  the 
stupendous  elevations  in  the  rear,  formed  an  aggregate  of  beau- 
ties and  sublimities  such  as  is  rarely  found  concentrated  at  the 
same  spot.  As  I  turned  from  side  to  side,  to  gaze  on  the  attrac- 
tive scene,  I  observed  a  neatly-thatched  roof  directly  below  the 
eminence  on  which  I  stood,  and  varying  my  position  so  as  to 
get  a  tolerable  view  of  it,  I  found  it  a  finished  specimen  of  a 
Gothic  cottage.  It  is  perched  almost  against  the  cliff,  having 
but  little  level  ground  about  it,  but  that  little  as  green,  and  as 
delightfully  ornamented  with  roses,  jessamines,  and  honeysuckles, 
as  can  be  imagined.  Access  to  it  is  by  a  winding  path  from  the 
hill  above,  and  except  that  the  view  in  the  rear  is  shut  out  by 
overtopping  heights,  the  prospect  from  it  must  be  as  grand  as 

Mem.  Hilnor.  26 


402  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

that  which  I  have  mentioned,  but  not  attempted  minutely  to 
describe.  ^ 

"We  dined  at  Linton,  and  then,  with  fresh  postchaise  and 
horses,  proceeded  to  Minehead,  where  we  had  arranged  to  spend 
the  night.  After  travelling  over  a  good  road,  across  an  elevated 
tract,  at  one  of  our  turns  the  village  of  Porlock  was  unexpect- 
edly seen  reposing  at  the  very  bottom  of  an  exceedingly  deep 
valley  before  us,  amid  fields  of  the  most  flourishing  grass  and 
grain.  They  reminded  me  of  the  garden  at  Versailles.  It  seemed 
at  so  small  a  distance  from  us  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  reach 
it,  save  by  an  almost  perpendicular  descent.  And  steep  enough 
it  was ;  but  the  road,  winding  as  the  surface  of  the  hill  allowed, 
first  in  one  direction  and  then  in  another,  proved  to  be  five  or 
six  times  as  long  as  one  would  have  imagined,  and  brought  us 
in  safety  to  the  village.  This,  however,  on  entering  its  narrow 
street  of  low  and  mean  habitations,  lost  all  the  beauty  which  it 
appeared  to  have  from  the  heights  above.  We  stopped  a  moment 
at  its  best,  though,  at  the  best,  its  miserable  inn.  I  asked  the 
landlord  if  the  church,  at  some  distance  from  his  house,  was  a 
handsome  one.  '  Why,  much  like  the  town,'  he  replied :  *  it's 
very  old ;  they  say  how  it's  three  hundred  years  old,  but  I  can't 
believe  any  house  would  stand  that  long.'  'Why,  my  friend,'  I 
observed,  *  they  say  the  church  at  Ilfracombe  is  twelve  hundred 
years  old.'  '  Ah,'  he  answered,  '  I  was  burn  ( born )  at  Ilfracombe, 
but  not  so  long  ago  as  that.''  P  inquired  about  the  minister  oif 
Porlock.  '  Why,  he  sarves  another  parish  about  two  miles  off, 
and  the  church  has  a  tower  and  a  bell ;  but  they're  a  queer  sort 
of  people.  In  the  winter  it's  too  co-aid  to  ring,  and  in  the  soomer 
it's  too  warm ;  and  so  they  don't  often  have  sarvice.'  Finding 
my  host  so  intelligent  and  communicative,  I  inquired  of  him 
about  a  tx)wer  on  one  of  the  hills  in  the  vicinity  of  Porlock, 
which  is  said  to  be  of  great  height,  but  was  hid  from  our  view 
by  the  clouds  and  mists  around  it.  '  He  had  never  measured  it,' 
he  said,  '  but  he  was  told  it  was  as  high  as  I  had  stated.'  I  asked 
if  it  was  built  of  stone;  to  which  he  sagely  answered,  'he 
believed  it  was  built  of  stone,  and  other  such  like  combustibles.^ 

"  Saturday,  July  24. — We  left  Minehead  at  half  past  6  A.  M. 
in  a  coach  and  one,  honored  with  the  name  of  a  '  -F/«/.'  ; 


MISSION  TO  EKGLAND.  403 

"  As  we  approached  Bristol,  the  embellished  residences  of  the 
wealthy  multiplied,  and  presented  a  constant  succession  of  objects 
deserving  of  notice.  We  came  in  sight  of  Bristol  while  it  was 
yet  six  miles  distant,  lying  in  a  valley  far  below  the  eminence 
from  which  we  beheld  it ;  our  road  being  one  almost  continu- 
ous descent  until  we  entered  its  crowded  streets.  The  election 
of  members  to  Parliament  being  at  hand,  the  city  was  in  a  great 
bustle,  owing  to  the  canvassing  of  the  candidates.  One  of  the 
streets  was  rendered  impassable  by  a  throng  of  people  listening 
to  a  speech  from  one  of  these  solicitors  of  popular  favor.  We 
concluded  that  a  residence  at  Clifton,  two  miles  from  Bristol, 
would  be  more  pleasant,  during  our  short  stay,  than  at  so  noisy 
a  place ;  and  therefore,  after  we  had  dined  at  '  the  White  Lion,' 
and  inquired  for  letters  at  the  post-office,  we. took  a  coach  and 
made  our  quarters  at  the  Bath  Hotel,  Clifton.  Mr.  Mcllvaine 
and  I  having  each  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Prust,  a  pious 
dissenting  merchant,  whose  family  residence  was  at  Clifton,  we 
sent  them  to  him,  and  he  soon  called  upon  us,  sat  the  evening  with 
us,  and  kindly  offered  us  any  service  in  his  power.  It  was  agreed 
•that  we  would  accompany  him  to-morrow  morning  to  the  chapel 
of  the  Rev,  Robert  Hall,  whose  celebrity  as  a  preacher,  as  well  as 
his  evangelical  piety  and  Christian  Catholicism,  have  made  him  so 
well  known  and  so  much  admired  in  this  country  and  in  ours. 

"  Sunday,  July  25. — On  going  with  Mr.  Pru§,t  to  Mr.  Hall's 
chapel,  we  found  he  was  not  to  preach  until  evening ;  we  there- 
fore went  with  our  guide  to  that  of  Mr.  Liefchild,  an  independent 
minister.  The  service  of  the  Episcopal  church  commencing  at  a 
later  hour  in  the  morning,  we  then  went  to  St.  Mary's,  Redcliffe, 
and  heard  its  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whish.  The  church  is  so 
spacious,  having  in  fact  the  aspect  of  a  cathedral,  that  the  voice 
of  the  preacher  was  too  indistinctly  heard  to  allow  my  mind  to 
go  along  with  his  discourse.  After  service,  we  were  introduced 
to  him,  and  walked  through  the  church  to  survey  its  monuments, 
some  of  which  are  very  ancient.  The  whole  interior  of  this  ven- 
erable Gothic  edifice  is  uncommonly  beautiful.  Against  one  of 
its  pillars  hangs  the  armor  of  Admiral  Penn,  father  of  the  founder 
of  Pennsylvania ;  and  two  of  the  now  ragged  colors  of  his  ship. 
His  tomb  is  in  the  adjacent  aisle. 


404  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNiQR. 

'  "At  half  past  six  P.  M.,  we  rode  down  to  Mr.  Hall's  chapel. 
He  did  not  come  from  the  vestry  until  the  conclusion  of  the  pre- 
liminary services,  being  much  indisposed.  He  appeared  feeble 
as  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  delivered  his  sermon  extempora- 
neously, in  a  low  voice,  and  entirely  without  action." 

According  to  his  custom,  Dr.  Milnor  took  full  notes  of  both 
the  discourses  which  he  heard  to-day ;  and  those  of  Mr.  Hall's 
show  it  to  have  been,  in  richness  of  thought  at  least,  one  of  his 
ablest  efforts.  "We  had  the  pleasure,"  adds  Dr.  Milnor,  "of 
being  introduced  to  Mr.  Hall,  and  went  into  his  vestry.  This 
distinguished  man  appears  to  be  in  declining  health.  He  has  for 
many  years  been  afflicted  with  the  '  tic  douloureux '  in  his  back, 
•  which  obliges  him  to  take  large  quantities  of  opium,  and  to  keep 
as  much  as  possible  in  a  reclining  posture.  A  sitting  posture 
and  the  labor  of  writing  are  very  irksome  to  him.  He  is  now 
also  distressed  with  a  determination  of  blood  to  the  lungs.  After 
a  few  moments'  conversation,  we  took  our  leave,  promising  our 
endeavors  to  comply  with  a  kind  invitation  to  visit  him  at  his 
own  house.   ^ 

"  Monday,  July  26. — Clifton.  Mr.  Mcllvaine  not  being  so 
well  as  he  had  been  for  the  last  few  days,  we  concluded  to  remain 
quietly  at  our  lodgings  in  this  delightful  place.  We  walked  out, 
however,  to  see  the  village  and  the  adjacent  scenery,  in  the  course 
of  the  mjorning.  Clifton  is  about  two  miles  from  the  centre  of 
Bristol.  In  fact,  however,  it  is  but  an  extension  of  the  city  from 
the  valley  up  a  steep  acclivity,  on  the  sides  and  top  of  which 
merchants  and  gentlemen  retired  from  business  have  planted 
their  residences.  The  ascent  is  continual,  till  the  eminence  is 
reached.  This  overhangs  the  river,  the  frequent  windings  of 
which,  and  its  high  banks,  covered  on  the  opposite  side  with 
lofty  forest-trees,  give  great  interest  to  the  scene.  Much  of  the 
summit  of  the  hill  is  left  open  for  a  promenade ;  and  is  greatly 
frequented  by  the  inhabitants,  and  by  strangers,  who  resort  to 
Clifton  for  the  benefit  of  the  hot  wells,  or  for  cool  air  in  their 
morning  and  evening  walks.  On  the  open  space  in  front  of  our 
inn,  are  constantly  standing  little  carriages,  on  two  hind  wheels 
and  one  fore,  each  drawn  by  a  stout  man,  for  the  accommodation 
of  invalid  females ;  many  of  whom  may  be  seen,  from  time  to 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  405 

time,  taking  their  airing  in  that  way.     A  dozen  little  donkeys 
also  stand  ready  saddled,  the  saddle  of  each  covered  with  a  clean 
linen  cloth,  for  hire  to  the  numerous  children  of  the  gentry,  who 
ride  about  the  grounds  for  exercise.     I  could  not  but  wish  to  see' 
my  own  little  boys  partaking  of  the  pastime. 

"At  half  past  two  o'clock,  we  visited,  by  appointment,  Mrs.  . 
Hannah  More,  now  in  her  eighty-sixth  year,  and  for  two  or  three 
years  past  a  resident  at  Clifton.  Her  house  is  very  agreeably 
situated,  having  a  pleasant  prospect  both  in  front  and  in  rear 
from  the  apartments  which  she  occupies.  She  has  no  inmates 
except  her  servants  and  Miss  Frowd,  a  niece  of  Lord  Bxmouth, 
who  is  her  constant  companion,  and  devotes  to  her,  with  all  the 
affection  of  a  daughter,  the  most  assiduous  attentions.  Mrs. 
More  rose,  and  received  us  in  the  kindest  and  most  courteous 
manner ;  offering  her  hand  to  each  of  us,  with  an  expression  of 
the  pleasure  which  it  gave  her  to  receive  our  visit.  On  inquiring 
the  state  of  her  health,  she  said,  '  It  was  as  good  as  usual ;  she 
never  had  enjoyed  perfect  health ;  and  yet,  through  the  mercy 
of  God,  she  had  attained  her  present  advanced  age,  having  sur- 
vived her  six  healthy  sisters.  Her  removal  from  Barley-Wood 
had  been  a  trial,  being  much  attached  to  the  place,  and  having 
expected  to  end  her  days  there.  Her  trial,  too,  had  been  aggra- 
vated by  the  cause  which  led  to  her  removal— great  dishonesty 
discovered  in  servants  who  had  lived  with  her  twenty  years.  God, 
however,'  she  said,  '  had  overruled  it  for  good,  especially  in  one 
particular.  The  minister  of  the  parish  at  Barley- Wood,  unhap- 
pily, did  not  prize  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Gospel ;  and  an 
attendance  on  his  ministry  was,  in  fact,  lost  time,  from  the  ut- 
terly unprofitable  character  of  his  instructions.  But  here  she 
had  the  comfort  of  being  visited  by  three  evangelical  clergymen, 
who  were  always  ready  to  assist  her  with  their  counsels  and  their 
prayers.' 

"I  adverted,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  to  the  currency 
which  her  works  had  obtained  in  our  country.  With  great  hu- 
mility of  manner  she  said,  she  was  thankful  for  any  good  which, 
under  God's  blessing,  they  might  accomplish.  The  Bible  Society 
and  Sunday-schools  were  spoken  of.  She  mentioned  that  she 
had  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  latter  immediately  after  its  com- 


406  MEMOIR  OF  DK.  MILNOr! 

mencement  by  Mr.  Raikes;  and  that,  in  Shipham  and  t^o  other' 
parishes  adjacent  to  her  late  residence,  her  schools  had  ever  since 
been  continued ;  that  she  regretted  her  inability  now  to  visit  them 
personally,  but  that  her  friend  Miss  Frowd  went  occasionally  in 
her  behalf;  that  the  people  were  very  poor  and  ignorant ;  but  she 
hoped  that  the  four  or  five  hundred  of  their  children,  who  were 
constantly  receiving  religious  instruction  in  those  schools,  would 
be  profited  by  them.  She  said  she  had  been  much  pleased  with 
learning  that  one  of  the  worst  pupils  they  ever  had  had  been 
converted,  and  was  now  a  missionary  among  the  negroes  of  Caf- 
fraria. 

"The  welfare  of  the  African  seemed  much  to  engross  her 
thoughts ;  and  she  expressed  an  anxious  hope  that  Mr.  Protheroe, 
her  favorite  candidate  for  Bristol,  rriight  succeed  in  his  election. 
He  had  called  on  her,  she  said,  yesterday ;  but  she  never  received 
visitors  on  the  Sabbath,  and  had  therefore  declined  seeing  him, 
but  requested  he  would  call  at  another  time. 

"  She  asked  if  we  had  seen  the  last  volume  of  her  publications, 
consisting  of  short  pieces,  written  at  different  periods  of  her  life; 
and  requesting  Miss  Frowd  to  hand  her  the  volume,  she  turned 
to  '  The  negro  boy's  petition  to  his  master  to  be  allowed  to  learn 
to  read  the  Bible,'  and  putting  the  book  into  my  hand,  asked  me 
to  read  the  piece  aloud,  which  I  did.  She  subsequently  turned 
to  another,  and  requested  Mr.  McBvaine  to  read  a  part  which  she 
pointed  out ;  and  again,  at  her  request,  I  read  another  beautiful 
passage — all  on  the  same  subject:"  [Mrs.  More  remarking,  that 
his  enunciation  was  so  purely  English,  that  it  would  never  have 
occurred  to  her  that  he  was  from  a  foreign  land.] 

"  The  name  of  Robert  Hall  being  mentioned,  she  spoke  in 
high  terms  of  his  piety  and  talents,  and  mentioned  that,  many 
years  ago,  her  dear  friend  Bishop  Portevs  had  requested  her  to 
use  her  influence  with  Mr.  Hall  to  enter  the  established  Church ; 
declaring,  if  he  would  do  so,  he  should  have  any  preferment  in 
the  bishop's  power  to  bestow ;  and  that  she  had  conferred  with 
Mr.  Hall  on  the  subject,  who  said  that  he  would  have  no  diffi- 
culty in  subscribing  to  the  thirty-nine  articles  of  the  Church 
of  England,  but  that  he  was  conscientiously  opposed  to  infant 
baptism  ;  besides,  that  his  entering  the  Church  would  be  ascribed 


MISSION  TO   ElfGLAND.  407 

to  motives  of  self-interest ;  that  his  usefulness  would  be  impaired 
by  such  an  imputation ;  and  that  therefore  he  declined. 

"  Mrs.  More  expressed  a  great  interest  in  America,  and  much 
pleasure  in  the  prospect  of  every  family  there  being  supplied  with 
a  copy  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  She  adverted  to  the  late  Mr. 
Bethune,  and  to  Mr.  Eastburn,"  father  of  the  present  Bishop 
Eastburn,  "  and  spoke  of  them  in  terms  of  high  regard. 

"  I  cannot  mention  more  particularly  the  various  topics  that 
occupied  our  visit  of  an  hour  to  this  estimable  lady ;  but  her 
Conversation  was  such  as  elevated  her  tn  our  esteem,  and  made 
us  regret,  so  far  as  we  dare,  that  a  life  so  useful  should  be  draw- 
ing to  a  close.  For  herself,  peacefully  as  her  days  may  have 
glided  away  in  the  practical  duties  of  religion,  in  offices  of 
benevolence,  in  literary  employments,  and  in  refined  as  well  as 
pious  social  intercourse  and  correspondence,  and  much  as  her 
works  have  contributed  to  give  her  a  well-earned  fame,  her 
approaching  departure  can  be  a  subject  of  no  regret;  for  her 
faith  in  the  Redeemer,  attested  by  her  whole  life,  has  fully  pre- 
pared her  for  the  change.  She  said,  in  the  course  of  our  conver- 
sation, that  God  had  been  very  gracious  in  prolonging  her  days, 
and  thus  giving  her  time  for  lamenting  her  past  sins  and  pre- 
paring to  meet  him  in  judgment.  She  said  she  had  not  been 
out  of  her  apartments  since  her  removal  from  her  former  resi- 
dence, and  added,  with  calm  resignation,  '  she  did  not  expect  to 
leave  them  till  she  was  carried  to  her  tomb.'  When  we  were 
leaving  she  rose  again,  and  extending  her  hand  to  each  of  us, 
said  she  considered  our  visit  to  her  a  favor,  and  desired  an  inter- 
est in  our  prayers  at  the  throne  of  grace ;  adding,  '  No  one  has 
more  need  of  them.' 

"  I  pray  Grod  that  the  remaining  days  of  his  venerable  ser- 
vant may  be  full  of  lively  faith  and  cheerful  hope;  and  that, 
with  an  aged  scripture-saint,  when  the  hour  for  her  transi- 
tion to  glory  shall  arrive,  she  may  be  enabled,  in  tranquil  con- 
fidence, to  say,  '  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace,  according  to  thy  word ;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  sal- 
vation.' 

"Tuesday,  July  27. — This  morning  we  took  a  carriage  and 
called  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hall ;  but  he  was  so  much  indisposed 


408  MEMOIR  OF   DR.  MILNOR. 

after  his  last  Sunday's  service,  that  his  friends  had  prevailed  on 
him  to  seek  the  relaxation  of  a  journey  to  Weston.  We  were 
also  disappointed  in  a  call  which  we  made  on  Mr.  Foster,  author 
of  '  Essays,'  etc." 

He  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  visiting  such  objects 
of  interest  as  were  to  be  seen  in  the  city  of  Bristol,  and  at  the 
close  of  it  made  the  following  entry  in  his  journal : 

"  I  received,  to-day,  a  newspaper  from  New  York,  contain- 
ing a  letter  addressed  to  me  by  Bishop  Hobart,  under  his  signa- 
ture, complaining  of  my  address  before  the  Prayer-book  and 
Homily  Society,  as  reflecting  improperly  on  him,  in  relation  to 
his  proposition  for  altering  the  Liturgy.  No  improper  reflection 
was  intended  by  me ;  nor  would  he  have  thought  so,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  miserable  manner  in  which  the  speech  has  been 
reported.  It  will  require  consideration  and  prayer  to  enable  me 
to  adopt  a  proper  course  in  relation  to  this  unexpected  attack. 
The  bishop's  letter,  though  it  contains  some  kind  expressions,  is 
yet  evidently  designed  to  injure  me,  by  conveying  the  impres- 
sion of  a  misstatement  of  facts  on  my  part,  and  of  an  intention 
to  make  the  British  public  believe  that  he  was  unfriendly  to  the 
Liturgy.  I  thank  God,  that  whatever  may  be  the  effect  of  this 
publication  of  the  bishop  on  the  minds  of  others,  my  own  con- 
science acquits  me  on  both  these  points.  I  stated  nothing  but 
the  truth  on  the  occasion  referred  to  ;  and  my  manner  of  doing 
■  it  was  neither  designed  nor  calculated  to  produce  any  such 
unfavorable  impression  as  to  the  bishop.  If  he  had  himself 
exercised  the  judgment  of  charity  in  the  case,  he  would  have 
drawn  no  such  false  inferences,  even  from  the  incorrect  newspa- 
per report  which  he  has  made  the  basis  of  his  letter.  But  had 
what  I  said  been  stated  as  delivered,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible for  him  to  do  so." 

Suspending,  at  this  point,  the  course  of  his  journal  in  Eng- 
land, it  may  be  well,  before  taking  further  notice  of  the  unhappy 
controversy  to  which  the  above  paragraph  alludes,  to  give  an  ex- 
tract from  one  of  Dr.  Milnor's  letters,  written  immediately  after 
the  close  of  the  London  anniversaries,  and  of  course  before  he 
could  have  anticipated  any  such  notice  from  his  bishop.  It  was 
dated,  "  London,  May  20,  1830,"  and  addressed  to  the  Rev.  M. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  409 

H,  Henderson,  his  temporary  assistant  in  St.  G^eorge's.     The 
extract  is  as  follows. 

"  In  every  instance,  my  addresses  have  been  received  with 
evidences  of  approbation  more  evincive  of  the  kindness  of  Lon- 
don audiences  towards  strangers  from  America,  than  of  their 
possessing  any  title  to  the  marks  of  respect  with  which  they  and 
the  speaker  have  been  favored.  One  mortification  every  speaker 
will  experience,  that  of  having  his  speech  most  miserably  mur- 
dered by  the  wretched  note-takers,  who  only  vie  with  each  other 
who  shfiU  soonest  slay  his  victim.  The  addresses  of  the  morning 
appear  in  the  evening,  or,  at  the  farthest,  the  following  day,  in 
the  language  of  the  illiterate  reporter,  instead  of  that  of  the 
speaker,  and  with  all  manner  of  blunders  of  expression  and  mis- 
statements of  statistics  and  facts.  Brother  Mcllvaine  and  I,  of 
course,  fare  like  others  ;  and  as  there  is  no  remedy,  it  is  not 
worth  while  to  complain.  The  reporter  of  one  of  my  addresses 
makes  me  call  the  state  of  Georgia  by  the  more  classic,  or  at  least 
.  Italian  name  of  Georgiani  ;  and  with  a  like  preference  of  Euro- 
pean to  Indian  appellations,  makes  me  speak  not  of  Creeks,  but 
of  Cretes.  Another,  instead  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  which  I  had  spoken  of  as  pledged  to  the  fund  for  supplying 
destitute,  families  in  the  United  States  with  the  Bible,  reduces  it 
to  ^t^e/ve  thousand  dollars  ;  and  in  another  speech,  in  which  I  had 
noticed  Bishop  Brownell's  missionary  tour,  magnifies  my  modest 
tribute  of  respect  to  that  worthy  prelate  into  an  assertion,  that 
great  changes  had  been  produced  by  his  ministry  in  the  country 
through  which  he  passed.  I  have  'hesitated  whether  to  send  to 
America  any  of  these  bungling  reports ;  and,  in  fact,  have  con- 
cluded not  to  do  so,  hoping  that  the  annual  account,  which  is 
published  in  the  course  of  the  summer,  may  be  a  little  better 
than  these  hasty,  jejune,  and  false  reports.  I  have  been  aston- 
ished to  see  some  addresses,  that  have  electrified  the  audience  who 
have  listened  to  them,  cut  so  miserable  a  figure  in  print,  with 
an  abundance  of  notices  of  'applause,'  'cheers,'  'loud  cheers,' 
'  hear  him,  hear  him,'  where  no  reader  can  possibly  divine  what 
could  have  led  to  such  expressions  of  approbation ;  the  report 
entirely  omitting,  or  shamefully  perverting  or  debasing  the 
sentiments  which   extorted   from  the   hearers  these  tokens  of 


4101.  '  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  , 

approval,  and  the  reporter  putting  them  in  anywhere,  as  it  might 
happen," 

A  brief  extract  from  Dr.  Milnor's  journal,  of  a  somewhat  later 
date,  but  before  he  could  have  anticipated  any  letter  from  Bishop 
Hobart,  will  also  be  proper  in  this  connection,  inasmuch  as  it 
shows  that  he  had  observed  the  errors  in  the  report  of  his  address 
before  "  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society,"  of  which  the  bishop 
complained ;  and  that  he  took  the  earliest  opportunity,  and  what 
he  believed  the  best  means  of  correcting  them.  In  his  journal 
for  "June  4,"  he  writes  thus : 

"Addressed  a  note  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pritchett,  secretary  of  'the 
Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society,'  requesting,  in  the  event  of 
their  publishing  the  anniversary  addresses,  an  opportunity  of 
correcting  the  errors  of  the  report  Qf  mine,  as  already  pub- 
lished"  ■     •-  /  ;  )■' 

This  erroneous  report,  then,  of  Br.  Milnor's  address,  reached 
New  York  about  the  20th  of  June ;  and  on  the  27th  of  July,  he' 
received  a  copy  of  Bishop  Hobart's  letter  to  him,  published  in  . 
the  New  York  Commercial  Advertiser.     We  give  the  prinoipat 
parts  of  this  unexpected  communication. 

,,     "TotheRev.  Dr.  Milnor. 

"New  York,  June  23,  1830. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — A  report  of  a  speech,  which  you  deliv- 
ered in  the  city  of  London  on  the  5th  of  May  last,  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society,  has  been  published 
in  several  of  our  newspapers.  In  that  speech,  as  reported,  the 
following  paragraph  occurs : 

"  '  The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor  of  New  York,  who,  after  adverting 
to  the  benefit  which  would  result  from  the  present  institution, 
observed,  that  in  America  it  was  proposed,  by  one  of  the  prelates 
of  the  American  Episcopal  church,  to  make  an  alteration  respect- 
ing the  lessons  which  were  used,  by  having  a  smaller  portion 
read  than  at  present ;  and  this  proposal  was  no  less  than  three 
years  before  the  conference,  and  was  discussed  by  those  who  had 
been  sent  to  the  conference  from  the  different  states.  Upon  its 
coming  on  for  a  decision,  he  was  gratified  in  saying  that  there 
was  not  a  single  person  in  favor  of  the  proposed  alteration  of  the 


MISSION   TO   ENGLAND.  411 

venerable  prelate  who  brought  forward  the  measure ;  and  he 
rejoiced  in  saying,  that  throughout  America  they  now  used  the 
same  prayer-book  and  homilies  which  were  used  by  the  Church 
of  England,  with  the  exception  of  some  slight  alterations  that 
took  place  upon  the  declaration  of  independence  in  the  United 
States.  He  certainly  considered  it  was  dangerous  to  touch  and 
alter  that  which  contained  such  sacred  writings.' 

"  This  paragraph,  and  indeed  the  entire  speech,  is  calculated 
to  produce  th&  impression  that  '  one  of  the  prelates  of  the  Ameri* 
can  Episcopal  church' — I  am  the  individual  meant — stood  alone  in 
a  rash  and  presumptuous  attempt  to  '  touch  and  alter '  the  litur- 
gy ;  and  that  you  and  the  entire  American  bishops  and  clergy, 
actuated  by  a  sincere  and  devoted  reverence  for  this  hallowed 
ritual,  marshalled  yourselves  against  this  daring  innovator,  and 
saved  this  '  delightful  service '  from  the  rude  hand  that  would 
have  marred  its  beauty. 

"I  am  unwilling  to  believe  that  it  was  your  deliberate  design 
to  produce  these  impressions ;  for  they  are  not  warranted  by 
/ac^s  known  to  you.  You  and  I,  too,  under  a  variety  of  circum- 
stances, and  under  no  very  unimportant  differences  in  matters  of 
policy^  and,  I  am  afraid,  of  ■principle^  have  been  friends  from 
early  life.  On  your  recent  departure  for  England,  I  took  leave 
of  you  as  a  friend  ;  and  our  mutual  expressions  of  feeling  on  this 
occasion  were,  I  am  satisfied,  perfectly  sincere.  I  was  not  pre- 
pared, therefore,  to  find,  that  on  one  of  your  first  public  appear- 
ances in  England,  you  had  held  up  your  bishop  and  your  friend 
in  a  light  certainly  not  calculated  to  raise  him  in  the  good  opin- 
ion of  those  whom  you  addressed. 

"  I  have  reason  to  thank  God  that  I  have  never  been  much 
tempted  to  consider,  in  the  determinations  of  duty,  what  might 
or  might  not  be  popular ;  and  the  older  I  become,  the  more  con- 
vinced am  I  that  'it  is  a  small  matter  to  be  judged  of  man's 
judgment.'  But  I  am  not  indifferent  to  that  '  good  report ' 
which,  both  from  personal  and  official  considerations,  it  is  my 
duty  to  endeavor  to  preserve.  My  visit  to  England  made  me 
somewhat  known  there ;  and  I  am  willing  to  think  that  I  enjoy 
the  good  opinion  of  some  distinguished  individuals,  whose  friend- 
ship is  as  honorable  as  it  is  gratifying.     A  principal  claim  to  that 


410  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILKOR. 

good  opinion  arises  from  the  conviction  of  my  consistent  attach- 
ment to  the  church,  and  especially  its  liturgy.  It  is  the  tendency 
of  your  remarks  to  deprive  me  of  this  claim.  I  must  be  permit- 
ted to  prove  that  they  are  not  warranted  by  facts." 

By  a  reference  to  "  the  journal  of  the  General  Convention  of 
our  church  of  1826,"  page  76  and  page  65,  the  bishop  proceeds 
to  show  that  the  impression  which  he  ascribes  to  the  tendency  of 
Dr.  Milnor's  remarks,  was  unfounded.  He  thus  comments  on 
his  proofs : 

"  Thus,  then,  the  propositions  which  I  am  represented  by  you 
as  alone  sustaining,  were  unanimously  adopted  by  the  house  of 
bishops,  and  by  a  very  large  majority  of  the  house  of  clerical  and 
lay  deputies  of  the  General  Convention  of  1826. 

"  It  is  true,  the  motion  which  introduced  these  propositions 
was  rnade  by  me,  but  not  until  I  had  consulted  all  my  brethren 
of  the  house  of  bishops,  several  members  of  the  house  of  clerical 
and  lay  deputies,  and  others  not  members,  and  among  them  your- 
self, and  received  their  and  your  approbation  of  them. 

"  You  observe,  that  these  '  propositions  were  no  less  than 
three  years  before  the  convention,  and  were  discussed  there ;  and 
on  their  coming  to  a  decision,  you  are  gratified  in  saying  that 
there  was  not  a  single  person  in  favor  of  the  proposed  alteration 
of  the  venerable  prelate' — meaning  me.  I  am  confident  that  indi- 
viduals, not  acquainted  with  the  real  state  of  the  case,  would 
suppose,  from  the  above  statement,  that  I  was,  after  the  lapse  of 
three  years,  the  advocate  of  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  altera- 
tions, and  in  this  sentiment  stood  alone.     What  is  the  fact  ?" 

By  a  reference  to  "  the  journal  of  the  General  Convention  of 
1829,  page  79,"  the  bishop  again  shows  that  this  supposition  was 
in  like  manner  groundless.     He  thus  follows  up  his  proof : 

"Thus,  then,  there  was  in  fact  no  decision  on  the  abstract 
propriety  of  the  proposed  alterations.  Under  '  existing  circum- 
stances,' it  was  judged  not  expedient  to  adopt  them;  and  they 
were  dismissed  from  consideration,  in  consequence  of  a  motion 
made  by  me  to  this  effect." 

By  a  long  quotation  from  the  annual  address  to  his  own  dio- 
cesan convention  in  1827,  the  bishop  then  proceeds  to  show 
"what  circumstances  led  to  this  determination,  and  what  rea- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  413 

sons  induced  the  measure  of  bringing  forward  these-  proposi- 
tions;" and  proves  that  he  had  been  influenced  in  that  measure, 
not  by  a  "  desire,  for  his  own  gratification,  to  shorten"  the  lit- 
urgy— for  he  "  rarely  availed  himself  of  the  discretionary  rubrics," 
which  already  tolerated  certain  abbreviations— but  by  a  wish  to 
take  away  from  irregular  clergymen,  "  the  plea  of  necessity  for 
altering  the  liturgy  in  consequence  of  its  length ;"  a  plea  which 
he  seems  to  fear  had  been  "  influenced  by  a  desire  that  individual 
license  may  have  no  bounds."  Having  illustrated  at  length  his 
reasons  for  what  he  had  done,  in  doing  which  he  of  course  shows 
that  he  was  the  unquestionable  friend  of  the  liturgy,  and  of  the 
whole  liturgy,  just  as  it  was,  he  thus  concludes  his  letter : 

"  The  address,  from  which  the  above  extract  is  taken,  was 
delivered  in  your  hearing ;  and,  as  well  as  the  journals  from 
which  the  other  extracts  are  made,  (was)  printed  and  published. 
,  I  now  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  these  documents,  be- 
cause I  think  if  they  had  not  escaped  your  recollection,  you  would 
not  have  made  the  statements  in  your  published  speech.  In  that 
speech  you  appear,  I  think  at  my  expense,  the  high  panegyrist 
of  the  liturgy.  I  doubt  not  your  attachment  to  it.  But  who 
most  consistently  displays  a  sacred  regard  for  this  invaluable 
ritual  ?  The  use  of  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  before  all  ser- 
mons and  lectures,  and  of  nothing  but  that  book,  is  bound  upon 
us  by  our  ordination  vows,  and  by  the  canons.  You  use  this 
liturgy  as  it  is  prescribed  in  your  church  edifice  ;  but  when  you 
assemble  your  congregation  in  what  is  called  your  lecture-room, 
before  your  sermon,  or  lecture,  you  abbreviate  the  liturgy  ad  lib- 
itum, and  use  extemporaneous  prayer.*  I  judge  not  your  con- 
science in  this  matter.  But  the  individual  who  addresses  you 
uses,  before  all  sermons  and  lectures,  the  liturgy,  the  whole  lit- 
urgy, and  nothing  but  the  liturgy.  May  I  riot  ask,  who  evidences 
the  most  consistent  attachment  to  it  ?  The  length  of  the  service 
with  you  is  no  difficulty  ;  for  you  think  yourself  at  liberty,  when 
you  judge  proper,  to  abridge  it. 

'*I  think  you  have  not  done  me  justice  before  the  English 

*  The  reader  will  observe,  that  the  ad  libitum  abbreviation  of  the  liturgy, 
and  the  use  of  extemporaneous  prayer,  are  both  predicated  of  Dr.  Milnor's  exer- 
cises before  sermon  or  lecture,  in  his  lecture-room. 


414  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

public,  and  that  portion  of  the  American  community  who  may 
not  be  in  possession  of  all  the  facts  of  the  case.  But,  reverend 
and  dear  sir,  it  will  require  stronger  acts  than  these,  and  often 
repeated,  to  extinguish  the  feelings  of  esteem  and  regard  with 
which  I  am  ' 

"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"J.  H.  HOB  ART." 

Immediately  after  the  appearance  of  this  letter  in  the  col- 
umns of  the  Advertiser,  and  while  Dr.  Milnor  was  profoundly 
ignorant  of  what  was  passing  in  America,  a  controversy  appeared 
in  the  same  columns  between  two  anonymous  writers  ;  well  un- 
derstood, however,  to  be  Dr.  Bedell  and  Bishop  Hobart — ^the  for- 
mer writing  over  the  signature  of  "  Observer,"  and  the  latter 
over  that  of  "  The  mthole  Truth."  In  this  controversy,  Ob- 
server defended  Dr.  Milnor,  principally  on  tjie  ground  that  the 
London  report  of  the  speech  before  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily 
Society  was,  in  all  probability,  not  only  imperfect,  but  also  in- 
(correot ;  while  The  wtiole  Truth  not  only  justified  the  published 
letter  to  Dr.  Milnor,  but  even  stated  the  charges  against  him  in 
much  graver  terms,  and  with  additions  and  amplifications  far 
"more  injurious  to  the  good  name  of  the  absent. 

For  a  reason  which  will  subsequently  appear.  Dr.  Milnor's 
reply  to  the  published  letter  of  Bishop  Hobart  was  not  written 
till  a  month  after  that  letter  was  received.  His  reply  bears  date 
August  27, 1830.  It  was  sent  for  publication  to  a  clerical  friend 
in  New  York,  and  is  known  to  have  been  received  in  due  course 
of  the  transatlantic  mail ;  and  yet  it  did  not  appear  in  the  Ad- 
vertiser until  the  22d  of  October.  For  what  reason  the  reverend 
gentleman  to  whom  it  was  sent,  detained  it  until  it  was  peremp- 
iorily  demanded  by  the  vestry  of  St.  George's,  the  public  have 
'never  learned.     Dr.  Milnor  wrote  as  follows. 

"  To  Bishop  Hobart. 

"  Sheffield,  England,  August  27,  1830. 
"Rt.  He  v.  and  dear  Sir— I  have  but  recently  seen,  in  the 
Commercial  Advertiser  of  the  25th  of  June  last,  the  letter  which 
I  exceedingly  regret  you  felt  yourself  under  the  necessity  of  ad- 
dressing to  me  in  so  unusual  a  way.     If  the  topic  to  which  it 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  415 

refers  could  have  been  made  a  matter  of  personal  explanation, 
or  its  notice  been  delayed  until  it  was  ascertained  whether  the 
report  of  my  address  before  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society 
of  England,  at  its  late  anniversary,  which  you  have  used  as  the 
basis  of  your  animadversions,  was  correct,  I  think  you  would 
have  been  satisfied  that  I  neither  intended  you  the  slightest  in- 
jury  or  disrespect,  nor  made  any  remarks,  on  the  occasion  refer- 
red to,  having  a  tendency  to  produce  such  an  effect.  To  arraign 
your  attachment  to  the  liturgy,  would  be  to  assail  yoii  in  a  point 
where  you  are  invulnerable ;  and  the  folly  of  such  an  act  would, 
in  the  present  instance,  only  have  been  exceeded,  if  done  by  me, 
by  its  ingratitude;  for  I  have  no  hesitation  to  acknowledge,  in 
this  public  manner,  what  I  have  done  repeatedly  in  private  since 
my  arrival  in  England,  the  singular  acts  of  kindness  on  your  part, 
which  distinguished  our  last  hours  of  intercourse  in  New  York. 

"I  confess,  I  consider  myself  as  having  reason  to  complain 
that  the  miserable  report  of  my  address  from  which  you  have 
quoted,  with  such  manifest  evidences  of  incorrectness  as  are  ap- 
parent on  its  face,  should  have  been  so  far  credited  as  to  be  made 
the  foundation  of  your  letter,  or  to  have  occasioned  you  a  mo- 
ment's uneasiness.  One  would  have  thought,  were  there  no 
disposition  to  put  a  harsh  construction  on  my  conduct,  and  this 
I  am  unwilling  to  suppose,  that,  without  giving  me  any  credit 
either  for  the  possession  of  very  accurate  information  in  church 
affairs,  or  a  desire  to  report  truly  in  relation  to  them,  it  would 
not  have  been  believed  that  I  could  have  forgotten  the  name  of 
our  highest  ecclesiastical  legislature,  or  the  character  of  the  pro^ 
posed  alterations  in  the  liturgy,  so  as  to  have  expressed  myself 
in  the  bungling  manner  attributed  to  me  by  the  reporter.  In 
the  remarks  actually  made  by  me,  I  am  perfectly  confident,  not 
a  word  dropped  from  me  that  was  either>  intended  or  calculated 
to  make  any  unfavorable  impression  in  regard  to  your  attachment 
to  the  church  and  its  liturgy,  of  which  neither  I  nor  any  other 
person  ever  entertained  a  doubt.  My  single  object,  in  referring 
to  the  subject  of  the  proposed  alterations  at  all,  was,  to  do  honor 
to  the  American  Episcopal  church,  in  the  matter  of  its  attach- 
ment to  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer,  by  exhibiting  the  unanim- 
ity of  the  disinclination  of  its  bishops,  ministers,  and  people,  to 


416  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

any  change  in  the  order  of  the  public  services  which  it  prescribes. 
In  doing  this,  I  am  persuaded  I  did  not  impress  an  individual 
present  with  the  idea  that  you  formed  an  exception,  in  this  re- 
spect, to  the  whole  body ;  and  much  less  could  any  one  have  sup- 
posed me  to  intend  the  disrespect  and  vulgarity,  as  well  as  the 
obvious  falsehood  and  injustice  of  representing  you  as  a  '  daring 
innovator,'  who  would  'with  a  rude  hand  have  marred  the  beauty 
of  the  liturgy,'  or  of  arrogating  to  myself  any  agency  whatever 
in  the  prevention  of  such  an  attempt. 

"  I  thank  you  for  acknowledging  your  unwillingness  to  be- 
lieve that  it  was  my  ^deliberate  design  to  produce  these  impres- 
sions.' I  add  to  this  concession  the  assurance,  on  my  part,  that 
it  was  as  little  my  design  at  the  moment. 

"It  is  to  be  regretted,  that  the  haste  with  which  the  news- 
paper reports  of  the  addresses  delivered  at  the  religious  anniver- 
saries in  London  are  published,  should  render  them  such  imper- 
fect representations  of  what  is  actually  said,  I  have,  however, 
no  more  reason  to  complain  of  this  than  others ;  for  scarcely  an 
address,  heard  by  me,  was  reported  with  any  measure  of  fidelity. 
In  part,  undoubtedly,  this  arises  from  the  necessity  of  condensa- 
tion, but  more  frequently  from  the  incapacity,  or  inattention  of 
the  editorial  reporters,  or  the  hurry  with  which  they  are.oblijged 
to  write  out  their  notes  for  the  press. 

"  I  have,  I  believe,  a  pretty  exact  recollection  of  the  terms  in 
which  I  expressed  myself ;  but  I  wish  not  to  incur  even,  the  sus- 
picion of- making  a  too  favorable  report  of  them  by  any  statement 
of  my  own.  I  therefore  subjoin  an  extract  from  '  The  Christian 
Register,'  a  miscellany  which  gives  a  more  correct,  though  very 
condensed  report  of  the  addresses  made  at  the  principal  anniver- 
saries. This  report  of  my  address  is  defective  in  its  want  of  ful- 
ness. My  remarks  were  still  more  guarded  against  the  possibility 
of  conveying  such  an  impression  as  I  regret  to  find  has  been  pro- 
duced on  your  mind.  I  copy,  verbatim,  all  that  the  Register 
reports  me  to  have  said  in  relation  to  the  subject  of  your  letter. 

"  '  The.  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor  of  New  York,  after  some  preliminary 
remarks,  observed  that  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  of  which  he  was  a  minister,  was  sin- 
cerely attached  to  the  liturgy  and  services  which  they  derived 


MISSION    TO   ENGLAND.  417 

from  the  church  of  England,  and  in  which  they  had  made  few 
alterations,  except  such  as  were  requisite  to  adapt  them  to  the 
varied  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed.  An  evidence 
of  the  attachment  of  both  clergy  and  laity  to  their  Book  of  Com- 
mon-Prayer had  recently  occurred.  At  a  General  Convention, 
held  four  years  ago,  it  was  proposed  to  allow  certain  discretion- 
ary powers  to  the  clergy,  in  the  abridgment  of  particular  parts 
of  the  service.  The  proposition  was  laid  over  for  consideration 
at  the  next  triennial  Convention,  which  w,as  held  in  August  last. 
But  so  general  was  the  disapprobation  of  any  intrenchment  on 
our  venerable  forms  of  devotion,  that  the  proposition  was  with- 
drawn by  the  highly  respectable  prelate  who  was  its  author. 
The  proposition  had,  no  doubt,  been  made  from  the  purest  mo- 
tives, and  from  an  impression,  arising  out  of  certain  differences 
of  opinion,  that  it  was  desired  by  a  part  of  the  clergy.  But  even 
those  for  whose  accommodation  the  measure  was  supposed  to  be 
intended,  were  averse  to  any  change,  and  the  American  Prayer- 
book  remains  as  it  was  established  a  few  years  after  the  declara- 
tion of  independence.' " 

[This  extract,  abbreviated  as  it  is  declared  to  be,  is  still  scru- 
pulously conformable  to  facts — historically  accurate  ;  and  so  far 
is  it  from  representing  Bishop  Hobart  as  an  "  innovator,"  seeking 
to  alter  the  liturgy  for  his  otvn  gratification,  that  it  show's  he  was 
influenced  by  "an  impression"  that  the  proposed  discretionary 
abbreviations  were  ^'  desired  hy  a  part  of  the  clergy,"  and  that 
when  he  had  ascertained  that  they  "/or  whose  accommodation 
the  measure  was  supposed  to  be  intended,  were  averse  to  any 
change,"  he  withdrew  his  own  proposition,  evidently  because  it 
was  designed  not  to  express  his  own  desire  for  change,  but  to 
"  accommodate "  desires  "  arising  out  of  certain  differences  of 
opinion"  among  the  clergy.    Well,  then,  might  Dr.  Milnor  say,] 

"  With  this  extract,  I  leave  the  matter  before  you  and  the 
public,  with  an  earnest  hope  of  standing  acquitted  both  by  them 
and  you,  as  I  do  by  my  own  conscience,  of  having  said  any  thing 
in  the  speech  referred  to,  designed  or  calculated  to  offend. 

"  On  the  subject  of  any  approbation  expressed  by  me,  of  the 
proposed  alterations  which  you  have  taken  occasion  to  mention, 
I  will  say  but  a  word.   ' 

Mem.  HOuor.  27 


418  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  I  am  sure,  Right  Rev.  Sir,  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to 
admit,  that  whatever  passed  between  us  was  of  a  very  cursory 
character,  and  at  a  time  when  but  little  opportunity  had  been 
afforded  for  their  consideration,  and  when,  certainly,  I  had  not 
understood  their  entire  bearing  and  relations.  Fuller  reflection 
led  me,  in  connection  with  many  others  much  more  intimately 
associated  with  your  general  opinions  and  views  than  myself,  to 
•  think  them,  on  the  whole,  inexpedient;  but  from  that  hour  to 
this,  the  idea  never  crossed  my  mind,  that  they  originated  in  any 
want  of  attachment,  on  your  part,  to  the  liturgy,  of  which  your 
ministerial  and  episcopal  course  has  afforded  such  uniform  and 
abundant  proof. 

"  With  respect  to  my  own  attachment  to  it,  I  repeat  what, 
in  substance,  I  said  before  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society 
in  London,  that  a  persuasion  of  its  excellence  had  no  little  influ- 
ence in  leading  me  to  unite  myself  with  the  Episcopal  church ; 
and  that,  in  my  own  estimation,  no  part  of  my  subsequent  con- 
duct has  been  inconsistent  with  this  profession :  but  at  no  time 
has  my  regard  to  the  prescribed  public  service  led  me  to  suppose 
the  use  of  extemporaneous  prayer  to  be  either  unlawful  or  inex- 
pedient, on  many  occasions  when  a  liturgical  form  is  not  en- 
joined; and  I  made  this  express  qualification  of  my  eulogy  in 
the  address  referred  to.  It  ( extemporaneous  prayer )  is  used  by 
many  clergymen  of  great  respectability  and  piety,  both  in  Eng- 
land and  America,  even  after  their  sermons  in  church.  This  is 
not  my  practice.  '  In  what  is  called  my  lecture-room,'  I  do 
use  a  prayer  of  this  description,  not  before,  as  would  be  inferred 
to  be  the  fact  from  the  statement  given  in  your  letter,  but 
after  lecture ;  a  practice  in  which  I  do  not  differ  from  a  large 
body  of  those  whom  I  esteem  as  among  the  most  devoted 
and  useful  ministers  of  the  Church.  Neither  am  I  more  sin- 
gular in  the  use  of  a  selection  from  the  liturgy  before  lecture, 
on  the  occasion  just  mentioned,  instead  of  reading  the  whole 
evening  service ;  a  practice  in  which  I  have  had  the  ex- 
ample of  many  of  the  brethren  of  my  own  order  in  the  min- 
istry, and  some  of  yours,  but  which  they  and  I  will,  no  doubt, 
be  willing  to  discontinue,  whenever  we  are  convinced  that  it 
is  inconsistent  with  a  rational  attachment  to  the  Book  of  Com- 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  419 

mon- Prayer,  or  to  our  duty  and  obligations  as  ministers  of  the 
Church. 

"In  conclusion,  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  I  haye  only  to 
repeat  my  great  regret  that  the  incorrect  report  of  my  remarks 
should,  in  your  view,  have  made  it  necessary  to  bring  me  in  so 
painful  a  manner  before  the  public ;  and  it  will  be  much  in- 
creased if  your  unfavorable  impressions  are  not  removed  by  the 
explanation  now  given.  For  your  kind  expressions  towards  me 
personally,  I  return  you  my  unaffected  acknowledgments,  and 
sincerely  reciprocate  them.  However  we  may  differ  in  matters 
of  policy — I  would  hope  not  of  principle — I  retain  a  pleasing 
recollection  of  our  early  friendship,  and  a  lively  sense  of  the 
evidences  which  you  gave  me  of  its  continuance  when  I  was 
about  leaving  home.  If  I  cannot,  with  sincerity,  express  my 
coincidence  with  all  your  views,  I  can  admire  the  talents  which 
have  raised  you  to  your  present  elevated  station  ;  and  if  a  wit- 
ness were  wanting  to  your  consistent  and  undeviating  attach- 
ment to  the  Church  and  her  Liturgy,  my  testimony  in  your  favor 
would  be  prompt  and  unqualified. 

"I  remain,  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 
"  "With  great  respect  and  regard, 

"  Your  faithful  presbyter,  and  obed't  serv't, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  following  letter  from  the  secretary  of  the  Prayer-book 
and  Homily  Society,  of  a  later  date,  corroborates  the  statement 
of  Dr.  Milnor  on  both  the  main  points :  that  the  first  report  of 
his  address  was  incorrect,  and  that  the  address,  as  delivered,  was 
not  calculated  to  make,  and  did  not  make  any  unfavorable  im- 
pression on  the  public  mind  in  England  in  relation  to  Bishop 
Hobart. 

"  Prater-Book  and  Homily  Society,        ) 
134  Salisbury-square,  London,  Sept.  8,  1830.  j 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  regret  much  that  some  things  which 
you  said  at  our  annual  meeting,  as  stated  in  '  The  Record,'  seem 
to  have  been  misunderstood.  In  reference  to  the  report  made  in 
the  Record,  I  have  only  to  state  that  it  was  so  full  of  the  most 
palpable  blunders — blunders  which  had  the  effect  of  total  mis- 


420  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MIENOR. 

representation  of  that  which  was  read  as  well  as  spoken — that, 
after  seeing  a  copy  of  the  paper,  I  personally  sent  to  the  editors 
a  refusal,  on  the  part  of  this  society,  to  purchase  any  copies  for 
circulation  by  us.  Over  the  general  circulation  of  that  paper,  I 
of  course  had  no  control;  but  this  is  not  the  first  instance  in 
which  a  mistaken  report  of  that  which  passed  at  our  g:eneral 
meetings  has  caused  us  uneasiness. 

"  "What  you  actually  did  say  was  correctly  reported  by  the 
shorthand  writer  whom  the  society  employed,  and  was  some 
time  since  published  by  us,  from  his  notes,  in  an  occasional 
paper,  of  which  I  have  sent  you  copies. 

"I  do  not  know  whether  my  personal  testimony,  in  addition 
to  our  official  report,  will  be  of  any  use  in  this  matter  ;  but  I  can 
most  truly  say,  that  your  statement,  when  I  heard  you  make  it, 
did  not  produce  the  slightest  suspicion  in  my  mind,  that  you  in- 
tended in  any  way  to  censure,  or  to  reflect  upon  the  bishop,  who- 
ever he  might  be- — for  his  name  was  not  mentioned,  nor  any  thing 
said  which  might  lead  the  audience  to  conjecture  what  prelate 
was  intended — on  the  contrary,  I  was  led  to  think  that  the  prop- 
osition made  by  that  bishop  originated  in  the  best  possible  inten- 
tions and  motives ;  and  all  that  your  statement  was  calculated 
to  show,  appeared  to  be  this  one  fact,  namely,  that  the  Book  of 
Comrnon-Prayer,  as  it  is,  without  any  alteration  whatever,  is 
held  in  the  highest  estimation  by  Episcopalians,  whether  clergy- 
men or  laymen,  in  the  United  States. 

"  I  did  not  hear  of  the  objections  which  had  been  made  to 
your  speech,  till  August  23.  I  shall  be  truly  glad,  if  the  state- 
ment now  made  shall  be  of  the  least  use  on  this  occasion.  My 
many  engagements  have  prevented  my  addressing  you  earlier,  as 
I  intended. 

"  Believe  me,  dear  sir, 

"  Yours,  with  sincere  respect, 

"C.  R.  PRITCHETT,  Secretary." 
"Rev.  Db.  MiLNOR." 

The  following  extract,  from  a  great  number  which  might  be 
given,  will  show  the  general  impression  made  upon  the  public 
mind  in  the  United  States  by  the  bishop's  letter,  and  the  news- 
paper controversy  which  followed  in  America. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  421 

To  Dr.  Milnor. 

"Philadelphia,  Aug.  7,  1830. 

"  Rev.  and  very  dear  Brother— In  all  things  you  have  laid 
me  under  the  greatest  obligations,  both  as  it  regards  the  papers 
you  have  transmitted,  and  the  kind  and  invaluable  letters  which 
you  have  written.  One  of  them  came  to  hand  at  a  most  provi- 
dential moment,  to  satisfy  the  public  that  Bishop  Hobart  had 
been  answering  the  blunders  of  a  bad  reporter.  I  deeply  regret- 
ted the  circumstance  of  that  most  unauthorized  personal  attack 
upon  you ;  but  I  am  most  happy  in  assuring  you  that  the  tide 
of  public  sentiment  is  wholly  in  your  favor ;  and  the  affair,  pain- 
ful as  it  has  been  in  some  of  its  stages,  will  probably  be  some- 
thing to  laugh  over,  when  you  return."  [Alas,  when  he  returned, 
it  was  any  thing  but  a  subject  for  pleasantry.] 

The  following  extract  from  one  of  Dr.  Milnor's  letters,  ex- 
plains the  reasons  why  his  answer  to  Bishop  Hobart  was  so  long 
deferred ;  and  will  close  what  we  have  further  to  give  on  this 
unpleasant  subject,  except  what  may  be  found  in  the  continua- 
tion of  the  journal. 

"To   Hubert   Van  Wagenen,  Esq. 

"London,  Sepf.  6,  1830. 

"  My  dear  Sir — '  How  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth  !' 
Guiltless  as  I  was  of  any  intention  to  wound  the  feelings  of  Bishop 
Hobart,  and  remote  as  my  remarks  were  from  any  tendency 
injuriously  to  affect  his  character  or  feelings,  nothing  could  have 
more  Surprised  me  than  his  public  letter.  From  my  inability, 
while  travelling,  to  obtain  a  more  correct  published  account  of 
my  speech,  and  unwilling  to  let  my  defence  rest  on  any  mere 
statement  of  my  own,  I  was  unable  to  prepare  my  answer  until 
just  before  the  sailing  of  the  last  packet.  It  was  sent  from  Shef- 
field, and  I  hope  will  be  esteemed  by  the  public,  if  not  by  the 
bishop,  entirely  satisfactory. 

"  When  I  reached  London,  on  Tuesday,  the  31st  of  August, 
I  was  surprised  to  find  that  there  had  been  a  public  controversy 
on  the  subject,  and  that  the  bishop,  abandoning  his  proper  signa- 
ture, had  assailed  me  anonymously.  I  will  not  deny,  that  I  con- 
sider this  as  placing  him  and  me  in  a  very  different  attitude  tow- 


422  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ards  each  other ;  and  had  I  known  that  he  had  held  me  forth  in 
so  odious  a  light  before  the  public" — he  refers  to  the  shape  of  the 
charges  in  the  anonymous  controversy — "  I  fear  the  weakness  of 
nature  would  have  made  me  less  forbearing  than  I  was  in  the 
answer  referred  to.  I  am  glad,  however,  that  it  went  to  America 
in  the  mild  shape  which  I  think  you  and  all  my  friends  will 
agree  that  it  bears ;  and  I  shall  publish  no  more  on  the  subject, 
unless  compelled  by  some  further  unkindness  on  the  part  of  the 
bishop. 

"  You  will  receive  by  this  conveyance  the  Society's  own  re- 
port of  my  speech.  This  I  never  saw  until  since  my  return  to 
London.  Without  any  revision  by  me,  which  my  absence  ren- 
dered impossible" — he  went  to  Paris  before  he  had  any  opportunity 
for  the  correction  which  he  requested,  in  his  note  to  Mr.  Pritchett 
of  June  4th — "  it  was  published,  just  as  it  stands,  from  the  notes 
of  the  Societies'  reporter,  before  it  was  known  that  any  contro- 
versy existed  on  the  subject.  You  will  see,  at  once,  that  I  could 
not  have  been  more  guarded  in  my  language ;  and  I  think  it 
will  acquit  me  of  arrogating  to  myself  any  thing  in  regard  to  the 
preservation  of  the  liturgy  from  change. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  pastor, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

"We  resume  now  our  extracts  from  Dr.  Milnor's  journal.  We 
left  him  at  the  close  of  his  visit  to  Bristol ;  and  find  him  setting 
forth  on  his  journey  to  Bath, 

"Wednesday,  July  28,  1830. — I  left  Clifton  this  morning  in 
the  coach  for  Bath,  fifteen  miles  distant.  In  passing  through 
Bristol,  we  found  '  the  Bush  Inn '  sheltered  by  a  high  board- fence 
in  front,  put  up  in  consequence  of  the  windows  having  been 
broken  by  a  mob  in  the  interest  of  Mr.  Bailly,  the  candidate  for 
the  House  of  Commons  opposed  to  Mr.  Protheroe,  whose  com- 
mittee sat  at  '  the  Bush.'  We  were  told  thirty-seven  wounded 
persons  had  been  carried  to  the  infirmary,  most  of  them  struck 
down  by  bludgeons  in  the  hands  of  drunken  sailors.  These  dis- 
graceful scenes,  it  is  said,  cannot  be  prevented  by  the  police.  I 
was  glad  to  see  a  handbill  from  Mr.  Protheroe's  committee,  ear- 
nestly entreating  his  friends  to  abstain  not  only  from  violence, 
but  from  all  irritating  language  and  conduct  towards  his  oppo- 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  423 

nents.  I  think  our  English  friends  must  eease  to  abuse  the  de- 
mooraoy  of  our  country.  Such  excesses  as  have  disgraced  the 
contest  in  Bristol  rarely  there  occur." 

In  passing  from  Worcester  to  Birmingham,  he  witnessed  a 
pleasant  sight,  of  which  he  thus  writes. 

"  Near  the  town  of  Droitwich,  a  fellow-passenger  told  me  that 
between  twelve  and  thirteen  years  ago,  a  poor  woman  had  four 
daughters  at  a  birth,  all  of  whom  were  still  living ;  and  that  the 
event  had  brought  the  parents  about  £1,000  in  presents  from 
visitors.  It  was  a  little  extraordinary,  that  as  he  pointed  out  to 
me  the  house,  the  children  actually  appeared,  two  of  them  with- 
out, and  two  of  them  just  within  the  front  door.  They  were 
comely  girls,  and  decently  dressed ;  and  the  apparel  of  the  four 
being  exactly  alike,  increased  their  resemblance  to  each  other." 

"At  Birmingham,"  says  the  journal,  "it  suited  the  arrange- 
ments of  our  little  party  to  separate  for  a  time  from  each  other. 
Mr.  Smith  was  desirous  of  going,  in  a  day  or  two,  to  Liverpool, 
where  his  brother  has  been  recently  married ;  Mr.  Mcllvaino 
thought  it  best  for  him  to  remain  quiet  a  few  days  with  Mr.  Gil- 
let's  family  in  Birmingham,  and  then  visit  various  places  in  Eng- 
land ;  and  my  plan  was  to  go  through  "Wales  to  Holyhead  ;  thence 
over  to  Dublin ;  then  through  some  parts  of  Ireland  to  Belfast ; 
from  'Belfast  across  to  Scotland ;  and  after  visiting  Glasgow, 
Edinburgh,  etc.,  to  pass  down  through  the  northern  counties  of 
England  to  London."     Accordingly  he  says, 

"  Saturday,  July  31. — This  morning  I  took  leave  of  my  friends, 
and  proceeded  in  the  mail-coach  for  Holyhead. 

"My  only  fellow-passenger  inside  was  a  gentleman  of  the 
bar,  who  left  us  at  Wolverhampton,  being  engaged  to  attend  the 
election  for  members  of  Parliament  in  the  borough  of  Bridge- 
north,  as  counsel  for  Mr.  Arkwright,  a  new  candidate,  opposing 
a  wealthy  family,  under  whose  influence  the  members  have  for 
many  years  been  returned.  He  told  me  the  expense  on  both  sides 
would  be  enormous;  the  voters  being  about  1,200  in  number, 
and  900  of-  them  out- voters,  that  is,  residents  in  other  parts  of 
the  kingdom.  These  are  to  be  hunted  up  and  coaxed — in  many 
instances,  no  doubt,  bribed — into  the  interests  of  one  or  the  other 
of  the  combatants,  find  their  expenses  borne  to,  and  at,  and  from 


424  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  place  of  election.  With  all  its  corruptions,  the  popular  branch 
of  the  national  legislature  is,  doubtless,  a  valuable  part  of  the 
British  Constitution ;  but,  if  it  could  be  accomplished  peaceably, 
a  reform  is  very  desirable  to  equalize  the  representation,  and  im- 
part more  purity  to  the  exercise  of  the  elective  franchise.  A 
large  number  of  the  members  of  the  House  of  Commons  are 
returned  by  small  boroughs,  over  the  few  voters  of  which  some 
nobleman  or  other  rich  individual  has  the  entire  and  absolute 
control.  Mr.  Brougham  lately  asserted,  that  peers  had  actually 
received  so  large  a  sum  as  £10,000,  for  returning  a  member  to 
the  lower  house;  and  this,  while  by  a  strange  anomaly  many 
very  considerable  places,  such  as  Manchester  and  Birmingham, 
are  not  represented  at  all."  [True ;  but  was  not  William  IV., 
surnamed,  some  time.  The  Reform  Bill,  already  on  his  throne  ?] 
"We  soon  crossed  'the  lovely  Dee,'  whose  praises  I  learned, 
when  a  child,  to  recite  in  a  pensive  ballad  of  that  day.  Taken 
in  connection  with  the  region  through  which  it  here  passes,  it 
deserves  them  all.  Llangollen,  the  vale  through  which  this  river 
pursues  its  winding  course,  is  too  abundant  in  beauties  for  my 
unpractised  pen  adequately  to  describe.  The  road  throughout  is 
perfectly  smooth,  and  terraced  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  supported 
by  a  stone 'wall;  sometimes  running  along  the  sinuous  course  of 
the  Dee,  at  a  great  height  above  the  windings  of  the  river,  which 
flows  cheerfully  beneath,  and  sometimes  nearly  on  a  level  with 
the  stream ;  and  yet  its  ascents  and  descents  so  gentle  as  scarcely 
to  be  perceived.  In  the  midst  of  this  charming  vale  lies  the  vil- 
lage  of  Llangollen,  an  interesting  place,  most  romantically  situ- 
ated ;  near  which  were  pointed  Out  the  elegant  residence  of  a 
rich  proprietor,  in  the  finest  Gothic  style;  the  ruins  of  Castel- 
Dinas-Bran,  a  Welsh  fortress  of  great  antiquity,  perched  on  the 
pinnacle  of  a  conical  and  apparently  almost  inaccessible  moun- 
tain; and  further  on,  the  beautiful  remains  of  Valle-Crucis- Ab- 
bey, and  other  objects,  the  names  of  which  I  might  have  recorded 
if  I  could  always  have  understood  the  Welsh  pronunciation  of 
our  coachman,  by  whose  side  I  sat,  and  perhaps  wearied  his  pa- 
tience by  my  questions.  An  intelligent  gentleman,  who  contin- 
ued with  us  to  Corwen,  about  ten  miles  beyond  Llangollen,  now 
and  then  kindly  supplied  his  lack  of  tongue. 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  425 

"After  feasting  my  eyes  with  a  succession  of  scenery  of  most 
surpassing  beauty  throughout  the  whole  length  of  this  sweet 
vale,  as  we  approached  its  termination  the  views  varied  from 
unbroken  verdure  and  fertility  to  smiling  meadows  overtopped 
by  uncultivated  hills ;  the  road  now  and  then  diverging  from  the 
river  to  avoid  a  hill  so  close  upon  its  margin  as  not  to  admit  the 
passage  of  the  road,  and  then  returning  to  its  bank  in  view  of 
fresh  objects  of  attraction." 

"  A  few  miles  from  Gorwen,"  having  left  the  source  of  the 
Dee,  "  we  entiered  another  vale,"  through  which  flows,  in  ^n 
opposite  direction,  one  of  the  head- waters  of  the  Conway,  "  only 
inferior  in  point  of  interest  to  that  which  we  had  left.  Among  a 
thousand  objects  deserving  of  notice,  a  beautiful  cascade  of  the 
rivier  presented  itself  in  a  deep  glen  by  the  road-side  ;  and  further 
on,  at  a  place,  the  name  of  which  I  dare  not  attempt  to  spell,  a 
small,  old  church,  which  I  should  not  have  noticed  but  for  its 
parsonage  of  uncommon  stateliness,  leading  me,  perhaps  not  in 
the  most  charitable  temper,  to  some  practical  meditations  on  the 
rebuke  of  the  prophet  Haggai,  1:4:  '  Is  it  time  for  you,  0  ye,  to 
dwell  in  your  ceiled  houses,  and  this  house  lie  waste  ?' 

"  Other  evidences  than  the  language  of  the  coachman  and 
hostlers,  now  convinced  me  that  I  was  in  the  midst  of  Wales. 
Beyond  the  inn  just  mentioned,  we  crossed  the  Conway  on  an 
iron  bridge,  and  the  country  at  once  completely  changed  its 
aspect.  Below  us  ran  the  river,  at  an  amazing  depth,  the  view 
downwards  being  at  times  perpendicular  to  the  bottom  of  the 
glen  through  which  it  rolled ;  and  on  each  side,  rose  craggy, 
naked  mountains,  of  most  formidable  aspect.  It  was  now  night, 
but  the  nearly  full  moon  shone  brightly  ;  so  that,  but  for  the  un- 
pleasant sharpness  of  the  air,  I  should  have  found  still  greater 
pleasure  than  in  the  daytime,  from  thus  beholding  the  wonderful 
works  of  God  in  this  wild  region. 

"  At  Bettws,  besides  a  singular  bridge  over  a  ravine  among 
the  rocks,  there  is  an  iron  bridge  over  the  Conway  of  105  feet 
span,  to  which,  froip  its  having  been  built  about  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  "Waterloo,  the  name  of  that  bloody  field  has  been  given. 
Our  passage  through  the  mountains  was  a  distance  of  sixteen 
miles.     Snowden  is  the  highest.     Down  the  shaggy  side  of  this 


426  Memoir  of  dr.  milnor. 

mountain,  my  fellow-passenger  to  England,  the  elder  Mr.  Thomas, 
precipitated  into  the  valley  beneath  a  large  portion  of  rock,  which 
he  detached  by  pushing  against  it.  This  rugged  scenery,  from 
its  contrast  with  that  through  which  we  had  so  lately  passed, 
increased  greatly  the  interest  of  this  day's  journey,  without  mak- 
ing any  difference  in  the  smoothness  of  the  road,  over  which  our 
horses  conveyed  us  at  the  uniform  speed  of  ten  miles  the  hour. 
By  winding  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  curving  and  recurv- 
ing, with  scarce  a.  hundred  yards  of  straight  road  in  any  place, 
its  builders  have  been  able  to  keep  it  almost  on  a  perfect  level, 
though  often  at  a  great  expense  for  its  security,  arising  from  the 
necessity  of  laying  the  foundation  of  its  wall  far  down  almost 
precipitous  declivities  on  the  side  next  the  narrow  valley  beneath. 
In  the  midst  of  this  immense  range,  we  passed  Onwig  lake,  a 
beautiful  little  trout-water,  about  a  mile  long  and  half  as  wide." 

As  this  was  at  night,  Dr.  Milnor  little  realized  the  grandeur 
of  the  scene,  by  day ;  the  awfully  shaggy  cliff,  which  at  one  mo- 
ment beetles  above  the  traveller's  head  as  he.  rides  along  the 
shore  of  that  lovely  water,  and  the  suddenly  frightful  chasm 
which,  at  the  next,  yawns  beneath  the  roadside;  while  the  out- 
let of  the  little  lake  leaps,  from  under  the  bridge  that  crosses  it, 
into  lower  air,  and  reaching  at  last  the  bottom  of  the  gulf,  sends 
its  Waters  away  in  a  line,  silvery  thread,  distant  and  noiseless, 
through  the  narrow,  green  meadow-vale  hundreds  of  feet  below. 

"After  leaving  the  mountains,  the  country  for  several  miles 
is  sterile,  but  afterwards  gradually  improves,  until  several  fine 
country-seats  of  gentlemen  are  seen,  one  of  which  ha,s  a  park  en- 
closed by  a  wall  of  stone  masonry,  ten  feet  high,  and,  taking  its 
four  sides,  seven  miles  in  extent. 

"  The  last  town  of  any  importance  that  we  passed,  was  Ban- 
gor, in  Csernarvonshire,  situated  between  two  high  ridges  of  rook 
at  the  head  of  Beaumaris  bay.  It  appeared  to  be  principally  one 
long  street.  We  stopped  for  a  few  minutes  at  a  large  hotel, 
much  frequented  by  company,  who  are  attracted  by  the  striking 
character  of  the  adjacent  scenery.  This  town  is  the  residence  of 
a  bishop,  who  has  a  pdace  here,  and  a  cathedral,  of  the  latter  of 
which  I  had,  as  I  passed  it,  a  moonlight  view. 
'      "On  leaving  Bangor,  one  of  the  most  curious  objects  is  the 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  427 

chain-bridge  across  the  Menai  strait,  an  arm  of  the  sea,  that  sep- 
arates the  Isle  of  Anglesea  from  Wales,  and  adds  much  to  the 
beauty  of  Bangor.  This  bridge  is  30  feet  wide,  560  feet  long, 
and  100  feet  above  high  water.  As  you  approach,  its  appearance 
is  very  fanciful  and  light,  and  you  can  scarcely  realize  that  it  is 
a  structure  of  sufficient  solidity  to  admit  the  passage  over  it  of 
vehicles  so  heavy  as  that  on  which  I  was  mounted.  Its  great 
height  above  the  water,  also,  is  sufficient  to  inspire  a  momentary 
apprehension  of  danger ;  but  when  you  are  once  upon  it,  this 
entirely  vanishes,  from  the  evident  strength  of  its  supports,  and 
the  security  against  accidents  of  the  defences  on  its  sides.  My 
moonlight  view  of  thi^  beautiful  object,  and  of  the  scenery 
visible  from  it,  probably  presented  them  in  a  more  interesting 
aspect  than  they  would  have  borne,  had  I  seen  them  by  the  light 
of  day. 

"  I  have  so  extended  my  note  of  this  day's  gratifying,  though 
long  and  fatiguing  ride,  that  I  will  mention  none  of  the  objects 
of  remark  between  Bangor  and  Holyhead,  except  the  lighthouse 
of  the  latter,  alternately  seen  and  hidden  for  several  miles  before 
reaching  it,  as  our  motion  changed  the  apparent  position  of  inter- 
vening hills. 

??i>n9*' Holyhead  is  on  a  small  island  at  the  northwest  point  of 
Anglesea,  and  is  considered  the  best  point  of  embarkation  for 
Dublin,  the  distance  across  the  channel  being  only  twenty  leagues. 
We  arrived  a  quarter  past  one  o'clock  A.  M.,  having  travelled, 
since  eight  the  previous  morning,  151  miles,  with  only  one  meal 
on  the  road. 

"  Though  I  felt  little  or  no  fatigue  during  my  ride,  yet  I 
found  myself  sufficiently  weary,  at  its  termination,  to  solicit  a 
berth  immediately  on  going  aboard  the  packet,  which  I  took,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  fell  into  a  profound  sleep.  I  did  not  awake  till 
aroused  by  the  captain,  with  the  information  that  we  had  arrived 
at  our  destination ;  not  Dublin^  indeed,  but  nine  miles  below  the 
city,  where  the  packet  stops.  During  the  night  there  had  been 
a  severe  storm,  and  our  vessel  had  encountered  an  exceedingly 
rough  sea — of  all  which  I  had  been  entirely  unconscious. 

"  In  consequence  of  my  late  sleep,  all  the  seats  in  and  on  the 
mail-coach  were  occupied  before  I  was  ready  for  the  statt.     I 


428  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

was,  therefore,  obliged  to  put  up  with  one  of  those  elegant  ve- 
hicles called  a  'jaunting-car,' with  a  miserable-looking  horse  and 
driver,  and  went  forward  at  a  pace — which,  for  want  of  a  whip, 
poor  Patrick  was  unable  to  quicken — of  about  four  miles  the 
hour." 

Dr.  Milnor's  visit  to  Ireland  was  so  short,  and  his  n6tes  so 
few,  that  extracts  from  the  latter  would  be  of  little  interest  to 
the  reader.  We  give,  however,  a  single  incident  and  a  single 
paragraph.  At  Dublin,  he  unexpectedly  met  his  interesting  fel- 
low-passenger across  the  Atlantic,  Captain  O'Connor,  who  was  of 
great  service  in  introducing  him  to  valuable  acquaintance,  and 
in  pointing  out  to  him  interesting  objects  in  that  beautiful  city. 
From  Dublin  to  Belfast,  his  ride  was  of  the  most  unpleasant  kind. 
"  Yesterday,"  he  says,  "  being  a  fine  day,  and  hoping  for  a  con- 
tinuance of  fair  weather,  I  took  an  outside  seat.  This  I  had  rea- 
son, soon  after  our  departure,  to  regret.  When  the  coach  started, 
at  half  past  six,  the  morning  was  lowering,  and  we  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  before  it  began  to  rain ;  and  in  a  little  while  we  were 
driving  through  a  most  furious  tempest.  Unfortunately,  too,  I 
had  the  windward  seat,  and  it  seemed,  at  times,  as  if  my  um- 
brella  would  be  torn  into  shreds.  Besides,  the  rain  soon  pene- 
trated through,  so  that  it  afforded  but  little  protection,  while 
those  of  other  passengers  poured  their  drippings  upon  me,  and  in 
a  short  time  wet  me  to  the  skin.  When  we  arrived  at  Drogheda, 
our  breakfasting-place,  I  had  a  violent  ague,  which  disqualified 
me  not  only  for  taking  my  breakfast,  but  also  for  changing  my 
clothes.  I  would  have  stopped,  but  the  inn  was  a  shabby  one, 
and  crowded  to  overflowing  by  people  attending  the  election.  I 
swallowed,  however,  some  hot  tea ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the 
vacation  of  an  inside  seat,  rode  the  rest  of  this  stormy  day,  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  miles,  to  Belfast,  under  shelter,  but  in  my 
wet  clothes.  My  landlord  at  Belfast  was  very  kind.  A  warm 
fire,  a  comfortable  supper,  a  hot  bath  for  my  feet,  and  a  good 
bed,  procured  for  me  a  delightful  night's  rest ;  and  I  awoke  in 
the  morning  with  a  heart  grateful  to  God  for  my  preservation 
from  the  anticipated  bad  effects  of  such  an  unusual  exposure  to 
cold." 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  yJ^'^^C-^^    Vii^  ■ 

SECTION  X.        \^||5p,^^^ 

At  twelve  o'clock,  Friday,  August  6,  Dr.  Milnor  was  in 
steamer  Fingal,  for  Glasgow,  where,  after  a  tranquil  passage,  he 
arrived  the  next  morning  at  four,  and  remained  till  Tuesday- 
afternoon,  Aug,  10 ;  making  himself  acquainted  with  the  prin- 
cipal religious  and  benevolent  institutions  of  tha^  beautiful  and 
floi^rishing  mistress  of  the  Clyde,  and  with  several  worthy  fam- 
ilies, to  whom  he  had  letters.  He  paid  particular  attention  to 
the  tract  operations  of  the  city,  and  to  the  institution  for  the 
education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb.  Speaking  of.  the  religious 
operations  of  Glasgow,  he  says, 

"  The  building  called  '  The  Religious  Institution,'  is  the  prop- 
erty of  all  the  societies  bearing  that  character  in  the  city ;  no 
less  than  twenty-five  holding  their  meetings  within  the  commo- 
dious building,  which  they  own.  They  have  a  secretary  of  the 
institution,  with  a  clerk  to  assist  him ;  and  he  issues  all  the 
notices  for  the  meetings  of  the  several  societies,  or  of  their  com- 
mittees. Each  society  has  also  its  own  secretary,  to  record  its 
proceedings ;  but  this  united  arrangement  saves  the  proper  offi- 
cers of  the  societies  considerable  mechanical  labor."  [Why  is 
not  the  plan  of  such  an  institution  worthy  of  adoption  in  all 
our  large  cities  ?] 

In  reference  to  the  general  condition  of  the  country,  he 
remarks,  "  In  one  particular,  I  see  a  great  difference  between 
Scotland  and  either  England  or  Ireland,  and  I  may  add  France. 
It  relates  to  the  practice  of  mendicity.  When  I  left  the  steamer 
this  morning,  I  was  assailed  by  no  beggars ;  and  I  have  traversed 
the  streets  of  Glasgow  all  day  without  a  single  application.  The 
appearance  of  the  lower  orders  here,  with  few  exceptions,  is 
much  more  decent  than  in  any  large  town  I  have  seen  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic.  Yet  I  was  astonished  to  learn,  that  re- 
spectable as  is  the  appearance  of  the  town,  so  far  as  I  have  seen 
it,  and  decent  as  is  that  of  its  inhabitants,  there  us,  in  fact,  a 
great  deal  of  poverty ;  and  the  reduction  of  the  means  of  living 
has  had  a  very  deleterious  effect  upon  the  poorer  classes,  in  point 
of  morals  and  religion.     The  population  of  Glasgow,  [this  was 


430  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

• 

in  1830,]  approaches  200,000.  Mr.  Heugh,  a  clergyman  of 
Credit,  told  me  that  the  chujch  accommodation  afforded  75,000 
sittings;  but  that  of  these  not  more  than  35,000  were  actually 
occupied." 

It  would  be  wrong  to  infer,  from  this  mode  of  calculation,  that 
the  means  of  grace  in  Glasgow  reached  no  more  than  35,000  of 
its  inhabitants ;  yet,  with  even  this  caution,  the  testimony  of  the 
above  paragraph  to  that  great  truth  in  political  economy,  that 
the  want  of  comfortable  bodily  sustenance  among  the  lower 
orders  is  peculiarly  injurious  to  good  morals,  and  therefore  to 
good  government,  is  sufficiently  striking. 

"  Sunday,  Aug.  8. — I  desire,"  writes  Dr.  Milnor,  "  gratefully 
to  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  God  in  my  preservation  to  see 
another  sacred  day  of  rest.  May  my  heart  be  deeply  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  unmerited  mercies  which  I  am  daily  receiv- 
ing at  his  hands.  As  the  only  return  which  I  can  make,  and 
make  it  I  cannot  without  thy  aid,  grant  to  me,  Lord,  I  beseech 
thee,  the  spirit  tx)  think  and  do  always  such  things  as  be  right- 
ful;  that  I,  who  cannot  do  any  thing  that  is  good  without  thee, 
may  by  thee  be  enabled  to  live  according  to  thy  will,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen." 

This  morning  he  attended  worship  at  St.  Mary's  chapel,  of 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Almond  was  minister.  St.  Mary's,  he  says, 
"  is  one  of  the  two  Episcopal  chapels  in  Glasgow — our  breth- 
ren being  dissenters  in  Scotland,  are  not  privileged  to  call  their 
houses  of  worship  churches.  Mr.  Almond  is  a  moderate,  evan- 
gelical churchman :  the  minister  of  the  other  chapel  is  a  high- 
churchman.  Mr.  Almond  being  absent  in  consequence  of  a 
family  bereavement,  a  young  clergyman  in  deacon's  orders 
supplied  his  place.  His  sermon  excited  a  very  favorable  opinion 
of  the  piety  and  doctrinal  views  of  the  preacher,  but  not  a  very 
high  one  of  his  talents.  It  is  to  me  astonishing,  that  the  young 
clergy  of  our  church  should  be  so  regardless  of  delivery.  The 
effect  of  all  that  was  valuable  in  this  sermon  was,  in  great  meas- 
ure, lost,  by  the  close  and  monotonous  manner  in  which  it  was 
read :  not  a  hand  raised ;  scarcely  a  look  towards  the  congrega- 
tion from  beginning  to  end,  and  not  even  such  a  regard  to  em- 
phasis and  cadence  as  at  all  times  to  convey  clearly  the  meaning 


MISSION  TO  ENQI^AND.  431 

of  the  speaker ;  and  yet,  the  sentiments  good,  and  of  such  prac- 
tical importance  to  the  hearers  as  would  have  justified  their 
enforcement  by  the  utmost  energy  of  manner." 

In  the  afternoon,  he  attended  "  Blackfriars'  chapel,  and  heard 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Dick.  He  had  been  preaching  a  course  of  sermons 
on  the  works  of  God  in  creation,  providence,  and  grace,  of  which 
this  afternoon's  discourse  was  the  conclusion," 

Monday  morning  he  spent  at  a  pleasant  literary  breakfast, 
with  what  he  calls  a  "  pious  and  catholic  little  circle  of  minis- 
ters," at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Willis,  secretary  of  '  the 
Religious  Institution;'"  and  at  one  o'clock,  "met,  by  appoint- 
ment, a  number  of  the  committee  of  the  Tract  Society  for  the 
purpose  of  a  friendly  conference  on  the  subject  of  tracts.  The 
gentlemen  present  expressed  great  satisfaction  at  the  account 
which  he  gave  them  of  our  American  tract  operations.  Neither 
Methodists  nor  Episcopalians  unite  in  those  of  the  Glasgow  so- 
ciety." 

"  At  four  o'clock,  Mr.  Wardlaw,  a  lay  nephew  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Wardlaw,  and  a  very  efficient  laborer  in  works  of  benevolence 
and  piety,  called  for  him,"  and  took  him  in  his  carriage  "  to  din- 
ner at  his  country  residence,  three  miles  from  the  city  ;"  and  in 
the  evening  to  a  temperance  meeting  "  in  the  little  parish  church 
of  the  village  of  Govan  on  the  Clyde  ;  a  beautiful  building,  and 
as  beautifully  situated  as  any  which  he  had  seen."  Of  this  tem- 
perance meeting  Dr.  Milnor  thus  writes : 

"  The  church  was  full ;  and  a  most  silent  and  respectful 
attention  was  given  to  the  addresses  on  the  subject  from  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Strothers,  Mr.  Wardlaw,  and  myself.  I  occupied  about  fifty 
minutes,  and  communicated  many  facts  in  relation  to  the  success 
of  the  cause  in  America,  which  were  new  to  the  people  whom  I 
addressed.  The  poor  of  Govan  are  principally  weavers,  and  many 
of  them  given  to  intoxication ;  while  few,  until  temperance  meas- 
ures were  introduced,  wholly  abstained  from  the  use  of  spiritu- 
ous liquors.  It  is  confidently  believed,  that  these  measures  will 
be  attended  with  most  happy  effects.  The  cause  is  looking  up 
most  encouragingly  in  Scotland ;  though,  as  yet,  many  even  of 
the  clergy  withhold  their  countenance ;  and  on  the  present  occa- 
sion, though  the  minister  of  Govan  granted  the  society  the  use  of 


432  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

his  church,  yet  he  declined  personal  attendance, '  not  having.madft 
up  his  mind  on  the  subject.' "  -  v'>^ 

Tuesday  morning,  Dr.  Milnor  enjoyed  another  breakfast  like 
that  of  Monday,  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Heugh,  whose  acquaintance 
he' had  formed  in  London ;  a  man  "  of  fine  abilities,  and  earnest 
devotion  to  his  duties ;"  who  had  invited  several  of  his  breth- 
ren to  meet  Dr.  Milnor.  "I  was  much  gratified,"  he  says, 
"  with  the  conversation,  which,  including  the  religious  services 
of  the  morning,  occupied  two  hours.  I  was  much  pressed  to 
continue  longer  my  stay  in  Glasgow ;  and  every  kind  expression 
of  feeling  was  used  towards  me  and  my  country."  '     ■ 

After  this  parting  breakfast,  Dr.  Milnor  had  time,  before  the 
coach  left  Glasgow,  to  visit  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  inspect 
its  system  of  instruction,  and  examine  some  of  the  productions 
of  the  pupils.  He  found  that  here,  as  in  other  similar  institu- 
tions, articulation  was  taught,  though  in  a  few  cases  only  in 
which  the  prospect  of  success  was  flattering.  Among  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  pupils,  he  saw  "  several  copies  of  rich  engravings 
ma4e  with  a  pen,  and  scarcely  to  be  distinguished  from  the  orig- 
inals.''^ One  of  these  was  "  a  copy  of  the  full-length  portrait  of 
Napoleon  in  his  imperial  robes,  by  a  boy  twelve  years  old.  The 
lad  observed  that  '  the  engraving  did  not  give  a  correct  represen- 
tation of  Napoleon's  face,  and  he  thought  he  could  improve  it.' 
And,"  adds  Dr.  Milnor,  "judging  from  the  best  likenesses,  and 
the  bust  of  that  distinguished  man,  he  has  certainly  made  a  man- 
ifest improvement  on  the  original."  , 

At  four  o'clock,  Tuesday  afternoon,  he  took  leave  of  Glasgow, 
in  the  coach  for  Edinburgh.  "  The  Rev.  Dr.  Byrne,  of  the  kirk, 
was  his  agreeable  fellow-traveller,"  being  on  his  way  to  "attend 
a  meeting  of  the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Established  Church  of  Scotland."  By  his  invitation,  Dr.  Milnor 
attended  the  sittings  of  the  commission.  "  This  is  a  kind  of 
standing  committee,  possessing  the  powers  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, and  holding  quarterly  meetings  for  the  transaction  of  its  ' 
business,  especially  its\  judicial  concerns,  during  the  recess  of 
that  body." 

When  Dr.  Milnor  entered  the  Tron  church,  in  Edinburgh, 
the  place  where  the  commission  held  their  sittings,  "  they  were 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  433 

engaged  in  the  consideration  of  addresses  to  King  William  and 
Queen  Adelaide,  which  were  agreed  to,  being  loyal  effusions, 
conceived  in  terms  sufficiently  complimentary ;  and  a  delegation 
of  nine  were  appointed  to  present  them  to  their  majesties,"  on 
the  occasion  of  their  recent  accession  to  the  throne. 

"A  discussion  then  came  on,  which,  in  one  shape  or  another, 
had  been  depending  for  four  years,  respecting  the  settlement  of  a 
minister  in  the  parish  of  Inverness,  whose  orthodoxy  had  been 
questioned.  A  preliminary  objection  to  the  jurisdiction,  arising 
out  of  some  peculiarities  in  the  forms  of  the  church,  and  of  the 
previous  proceedings  in  the  case,  gave  me,"  says  Dr.  Milnor,  "an 
opportunity  of  hearing  two  eminent  barristers,  Mr.  Buchanan 
and  Mr.  Patrick  Robertson,  who  were  employed  as  counsel  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  question.  Both  spoke  with  ability,  and  the 
latter  with  much  animation ;  but  neither  of  them,  I  thought,  with 
so  much  tact  as  several  ministers  and  lawyers,  members  of  the 
commission.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Cook,  Dr.  Byrne,  and  others,  spoke 
with  great  energy  and  warmth  ;  and  the  objection  to  the  jurisdic- 
tion was  almost  unanimously  overruled." 

Thus  introduced  to  Edinburgh,  Dr.  Milnor  remained  in  that 
renowned  capital  of  Scotland  from  the  10th  to  the  I7th  of  Au- 
gust, cultivating  the  acquaintance,  and  enjoying  the  hospitalities 
of  its  religious  circles.  The  evening  of  the  11th  was  a  "dismal" 
close  to  what  had  been  a  stormy  afternoon ;  but  "  Dr.  Walker  of 
London,  and  his  travelling  companion,  an  intelligent  student  of 
the  Inner  Temple,  dined  with  him  at  his  hotel,  and  by  their  con- 
versation relieved  the  solitariness"  of  his  hours.  And  he  adds, 
at  the  close  of  his  journal  for  the  day,  "Besides  the  respectable 
gentlemen  above  mentioned,  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  John  Sheppard,  Esq.,  author  of  '  Thoughts  on 
Private  Devotion'  and  some  other  works,  who  transmitted  to 
Lord  Byron  a  prayer  composed  for  his  lordship  by  Mrs.  Sheppard. 
Lord  Byron  reti;rned  the  reply  which,  since  his  death,  has  been 
published,  and  which,  as  coming  from  such  a  man,  contains  so 
singular  an  acknowledgment  of  the  excellence  of  Christianity  in 
communicating  happiness  to  its  true  subjects.  Mr.  Sheppard 
studied  medicine  in  Edinburgh,  several  years  ago ;  but  being  a 
man  of  independent  fortune,  and  having  determined  not  to  prac- 

llem.  Miloor.  28 


434  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

tise  the  medical  profession,  he  never  took  his  degree.  His  pur- 
suits have  since  been  literary,  religious,  and  benevolent ;  for  use- 
fulness in  which,  he  sustains  the  highest  reputation  in  Frome- 
Selwood,  Somersetshire,  England,  where  he  resides.  He  has 
lately  published,  in  two  volumes,  a  work  on  the  evidences  of 
Christianity." 

"  Thursday  Morning,  August  12, — Mr.  Sheppard  proposed  to 
accompany  me  on  a  long  walk.  Accordingly,  we  started  for 
Holyrood  house  ;  and  after  surveying  the  exterior  of  this  venera- 
ble and  celebrated  building,  we  ascended  the  circular,  and  in 
some  places  steep  road,  which  winds  round  Salisbury  Craig  and 
Arthur's  Seat,  stopping  at  various  points  of  the  ascent,  to  view 
the  inimitable  panorama  of  Edinburgh,  as  presented  in  various 
aspects  all  the  way  up  this  lofty  eminence.  The  striking  termina- 
tions of  the  old  town  in  those  massy  ancient  structures,  Holyrood 
house  on  the  east,  in  the  valley  beneath  our  feet,  and  the  castle  on 
the  west,  upon  its  lofty  rock ;  the  many  intervening  churches,  with 
turrets,  domes,  and  steeples ;  the  splendid  column  in  memory  of 
Nelson ;  the  elegant  specimens  of  modern  architecture,  presented 
in  the  unfinished  temple  and  other  structures  on  Calton  Hill ; 
the  high-school,  the  jail,  the  bridewell,  etc. ;  the  singular  valley 
between  the  old  town  and  the  new,  and  the  immense  mass  of 
fine  buildings  in  the  latter ;  the  charming  view  of  the  Frith  of 
Forth  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  the  Pentland  Hills  on  the  other, 
with  country-seats  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  in  the  distance, 
altogether,  present  a  scene  of  unrivalled  grandeur.  '  As  we 
mounted  the  height,  especially  as  we  rounded  the  elevated  sum- 
mit of  Arthur's  Seat,  the  wind  was  so  strong  as  almost  to  make 
our  position  unsafe.  We  persevered,  however,  in  our  course,  and 
descended  on  the  opposite  side." 

But,  while  in  Edinburgh,  Dr.  Milnor's  object  was  less  to  see 
things,  than  to  become  acquainted  with  men  and  with  religious 
institutions.  He  spent  most  of  his  time  in  social  and  religious 
intercourse  with  such  men  as  have  already  been  named,  and  with 
the  aged  and  veteran  Dr.  Peddie,  of  the  Secession  church ;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Innes,  of  the  Baptist ;  the  Rev.  John  Brown,  grandson 
of  the  Rev.  John  Brown  of  Haddington ;  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Ram- 
say, Sinclair,  and  Craig,  of  the  Episcopal  church ;  Dr.  Chalmers, 


MISSION   TO    ENGLAND.  435 

and  Mr.  Thomas  Miller,  brother  to  several  of  that  name  in  Phila- 
delphia— all  men  of  piety  and  talents,  and  several  of  them,  be- 
sides Dr.  Chalmers,  authors  of  no  mean  distinction.  His  social 
and  religious  intercourse  with  these  gentlemen,  on  various  break- 
fast and  dinner  occasions— similar  to  those  on  which  he  met  so 
many  noble  ones  of  the  Church  in  London — was  full  of  satisfac- 
tion and  of  profit,  and  made  his  memories  of  "  The  Heart  of  Mid 
Lothian"  more  fragrant  than  they  could  have  been  if  gathered 
from  the  festivities  of  wealth  and  the  splendors  of  fashion.  Dr. 
Chalmers  was  of  the  company  at  dinner  both  on  Friday  at  Mr. 
Ramsay's,  and  on  Saturday  at  Mr.  Craig's,  and  had  the  circle  of 
friends  at  his  own  house  to  breakfast  on  Monday  morning.  Inter- 
course with  this  great,  good  man  served  to  elevate  him  still  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  those  who  had  previously  known  him  only 
in  his  loftiness  as  a  preacher  and  an  author.  The  character  of 
the  social,  religious  entertainments  to  which  Dr.  Milnor  was  ad- 
mitted in  Edinburgh,  may  be  judged  from  the  brief  account  which 
he  gives  of  the  breakfast  at  Dr.  Chalmers'  on  Monday  morning. 
^  "He  received  me  with  great  affability  and  kindness,  and  Mrs. 
Chalmers,  with  all  that  frankness  and  ease  of  manner  which 
distinguishes  the  Scottish  ladies.  Before  breakfast.  Dr.  Chalmers 
read  a  chapter  to  the  family ;  and  at  his  request,  I  offered  prayer. 
"The  topics  of  conversation  were  various.  Dr.  Chalmers, 
being  a  member  of  the  established  Church  of  Scotland,  is  evi- 
dently much  attached  to  the  union  of  church  and  state.  It  is 
true,  that,  like  all  the  members  of  the  Kirk,  he  utterly  disclaims 
the  idea  of  the  king's  being,  in  any  sense,  its  spiritual  head,  or 
of  the  government's  having  any  right  to  interfere  with  the  most 
entire  liberty  of  conscience  in  its  subjects.  On  this  latter  ground 
it  was,  that  he  advocated  so  strenuously  the  cause  of  Catholic 
emancipation.  But  he  favors  the  union  of  church  and  state 
simply  because  he  thinks  it  is  of  advantage  to  Christianity  to 
be  formally  recognized  as  the  religion  of  the  country,  and  to 
receive  the  protection  of  government,  and  in  various  ways  its 
pecuniary  aid  in  maintaining  its  ministry  and  institutions.  He 
inquired  particularly  as  to  numerous  difficulties  which  he  sup- 
posed must  in  our  country  attend  the  absence  of  an  establish- 
ment; especially  in  regard  to  the  erection  of  churches,  and  the 


436         ,  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

extension  of  religion  coordinately  with  the  rapid  increase  of  our 
population.  He  thought  that,  if  left  entirely  to  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  the  people,  religion  must  decline  for  want  of 
pecuniary  support. 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  argued,  that  besides  the  utter  inconsist- 
ency of  an  establishment  with  the  genius  of  our  free  institutions, 
and  with  the  character  and  opinions  of  our  people,  it  would  be 
inexpedient  to  adopt  such  a  measure ;  that  religion  would  be 
more  cheerfully  supported  under  a  voluntary,  than  under  a  com-' 
pulsory  system ;  that  unhappy  jealousies  between  different  de- 
nominations would  be  avoided,  as  well  as  those  numerous'  cor- 
ruptions and  incumbrances  which  we  saw  appertaining  to  all 
long-continued  connections  of  religion  with  government,  even  to 
those  best  in  the  world,  the  English  and  Scotch  establishments ; 
that  although,  in  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  United  States, 
the  increase  of  the  population  exceeded  that  of  the  means  of 
grace,  yet  this  was  an  evil  which,  in  the  existing  divided  state  of 
religious  opinion,  would  find  no  remedy  in  the  established  domi- 
nance of  one  denomination;  that,  in  point  of  fact — allowance 
being  made  for  the  youth  of  our  country — our  religious  statis- 
tics would  bear  a  respectable  comparison  with  those  of  either^ 
England  or  Scotland ;  and  that  in  both  of  the  latter  countries, 
the  great  proportion  of  dissenters  was  a  proof  of  the  unpopularity 
of  establishments,  as  the  number  of  the  dissenting  churches,  the 
talent  and  learning  of  their  ministers,  and  the  piety  of  many  of 
their  people,  were,  of  the  truthj  more  fully  demonstrated  in  Amer- 
ica, that  religion  could  be  supported  by  the  unconstrained  liber- 
ality of  its  friends,  and  would  lose  none  of  its  purity  by  refusing 
all  secular  reliances  whatsoever.  I  adverted  to  some  of  our  re- 
ligious statistics,  and  compared  them  with  the  information  which 
I  had  received  in  Glasgow  as  to  the  proportion  of  attendants  on 
public  worship  in  that  respectable  city  ;  and  contended  that  our 
country  did  not  suffer  in  the  comparison. 

"  Dr.  Chalmers  listened  with  much  attention  to  my  argument 
and  statements,  and  avowed  a  deep  interest  in  America — espe- 
cially in  her  connection  with  the  cause  of  Christ  throughout  the 
world.  He  spoke  in  terms  of  respect  of  several  of  our  religious 
writers ;  and  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  whether  we  might  hope  for 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  437 

a  visit  from  him,  said  that  he  feared  his  engagements  in  the  uni- 
versity would  prevent  sueh  a  step ;  and  that  extreme  aversion  to 
a  sea-voyage  was  with  him  another  formidable  difficulty  in  the 
way." 

On  Tuesday  morning,  August  17,  he  left  Edinburgh  for  Car- 
lisle, saddened  by  two  considerations — the  shortness  of  his  visit, 
and  the  state  of  the  weather ;  for  it  was  "  what  the  Scotch  call 
*  a  soft  morning ;'  that  is,  it  rained  hard."  His  course  lay 
through  Selkirk  and  among  the  Cheviot  hills;  along  the  Tweed 
and  the  Esk,  and  across  the  border  grounds  of  olden  fame.  He 
reached  Carlisle  about  dark,  where  he  would  have  stopped,  but 
for  the  wish  that  had  come  over  him  to  see  the  English  lakes, 
and  the  circumstance  that  the  town  was  overflowing  with  attend- 
ants on  the  assizes,  to  such  a  degree  as  to  make  it  difficult  for 
him  to  obtain  lodgings.  Influenced  by  these  considerations,  he 
changed  his  mind,  and  in  spite  of  a  long  day's  ride,  intense  cold 
weather,  and  an  outside  seat,  rode  on  to  Penrith,  eighteen  miles 
further,  before  he  found  a  resting  for  the  night. 

"  The  tediousness  of  this  night-travelling,"  he  observes,  "  was 
somewhat  beguiled  by  a  talkative  fellow-traveller  by  my  side, 
who  had  been  attending  the  assize  court.  Mr.  Brougham  and 
several  other  of  the  most  eminent  counsel  had  been  several  days 
employed  in  trying  a  cause,  in  which  the  question  between  the 
litigants  related  to  a  right  of  way,  which  the  one  claimed,  by 
prescription,  from  time  '  whereof  the  memory  of  man  runneth 
not  to  the  contrary;'  while  the  other  contended  that  the  claim 
was  a  recent  invasion  of  his  own  rights.  Fifty  witnesses  on  each 
side  had  already  been  examined,  and  yet  the  battle  remained  un- 
decided. The  matter  is  of  but  small  real  importance,  and  the 
contest  is  clearly  for  victory  between  two  angry  combatants,  who, 
to  gratify  their  resentments,  will  expend  each  several  thousand 
pounds." 

Dr.  Milnor's  visit  to  the  lakes  of  Cumberland  and  Westmore- 
land, on  his  devious  route  between  Penrith  and  Kendal,  was  a 
source  to  him  of  unmingled  delight,  as  such  a  visit  must  be  to 
every  true  lover  of  nature.;  The  scenery  is  some  of  the  most 
lovely  ever  spread  by  the  hand  of  God  before  the  eye  of  man. 
With  no  great  height  of  mountains,  the  loftiest  being  little  over 


438  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

3,000  feet,  there  are  still  such  a  grouping  of  almost  innumerable 
summits ;  such  a  cleaving  of  each  from  all  the  rest,  down  to  its 
very  base  ;  such  a  sombre  ruggedness  and  grotesqueness  in  many 
of  their  forms  ;  yet  such  a  kind,  and  genial,  and  sunny  embosom- 
ing of  green  fields  and  glassy  "  waters"  among  their  deep  vallies ; 
such  a  sprinkling  of  quiet  villages,  and  of  guileless  villagers 
among  the  glens,  and  round  the  lakes  below  ;  and  such  worship- 
moving  views  of  Grod's  glory  from  the  pinnacles  above,  that  no 
traveller  who,  with  a  poet's  eye,  has  looked  upon  the  whole,  will 
deem  it  hyperbole  to  call  this  region,  as  a  tourist  of  former  days 
has  named  it,  "  the  pageantry  of  creation." 

Hanging  round,  and  hovering  over  those  deep-sheltered  lakes, 
Bassenthwaite,  Derwentwater,  and  Thirlmere ;  Ullswater,  Wast- 
water,  and  Winandermere  ;  and  even  little  Rydalwater  and  Gras- 
mere ;  about  Keswick  and  Rydalmount,  Bowness  and  Ambleside, 
with  the  various  lesser  hamlets  of  their  train ;  in  narrow  Gris- 
dale,  deep  Borrowdale,  and  nameless  sister  dales  around ;  and 
finally,  in  the  dark  chasms  and  the  dim  caves  which  now  and 
then  yawn  around  the  feet  of  the  mountains,  as  well  as  in  the 
dashing  cascades  which  here  and  there  leap  from  their  rough 
foreheads  and  rush  down  their  rocky  faces — hanging  round,  and 
hovering  over  all  these,  there  is  a  silent  or  a  speaking,  a  profound 
and  an  almost  living  soul  of  nature,  which  could  hardly  have 
failed  to  draw  amid  their  charmed  abiding-places,  such  spirits  as 
those  of  Watson  and  of  Arnold,  or  those  of  Wordsworth,  Southey, 
and  Hemans.  The  retreats  of  Westmoreland  and  Cumberland, 
are  the  sacred  summer  homes  both  of  devotion  and  of  poetry. 
Nor  even  in  winter  do  they  furnish  less,  though  it  be  a  rougher 
nurture  to  the  soul  that  loves  to  look  on  God  as  seen  in  all  the 
moods  of  his  ever-various  works.  "  Beaumont-street  in  Oxford," 
may  please  the  learned  lecturer  on  history ;  "  nevertheless,"  says 
the  proprietor  of  Fox  How,  penning  a  letter  on  the  I7th  of  Janu- 
ary, "I  prefer  writing  from  the  delicious  calm  of  this  place, 
where  the  mountains  raise  their  snowy  tops  into  the  clear  sky, 
by  this  dim  twilight,  with  a  most  ghostlike  solemnity,  and  noth- 
ing is  heard,  far  or  near,  except  the  sound  of  the  stream  through 
the  valley.  I  have  been  walking  to-day  to  Windermere,  and 
went  out  on  a  little  rude  pier  of  stones  into  the  lake,  to  watch 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  439 

what  is  to  me  one  of  the  most  beautiful  objects  in  nature,  the 
life  of  blue  water  amidst  a  dead  landscape  of  snow.  The  sky 
was  bright,  and  the  wind  fresh,  and  the  lake  was  dancing  and 
singing,  as  it  were ;  while  all  along  its  margin  lay  the  dead 
snow  covering  every  thing  but  the  lake."  [Life  of  Arnold,  p.  435. 
Appleton,  New  York,  1845.]     • 

After  this  day  of  rare  pleasure.  Dr.  Milnor  reached  busy  old 
Kendal  a  little  after  dark,  and  the  next  morning,  Thursday,  Aug. 
19,  pursued  his  way  to  busier  young  Manchester.  Kendal  and 
Manchester  are  indeed  both  old,  in  the  date  of  their  origin,  yet 
both  comparatively  young  in  the  rise  of  their  bustling  manufac- 
turing interests.  Between  the  two  he  passed  through  Burton 
and  Lancaster,  Garstang  and  Preston,  Chorley  and  Bolton.  He 
spent  Friday  in  taking  an  exterior  view  of  Manchester,  and  in 
delivering  his  letters  of  introduction.  Unfortunately  for  him, 
however,  the  good  folks  of  Manchester  were  too  busy  to  wait  at 
home  for  visitors,  and  he  therefore,  for  this  day,  failed  of  making 
any  acquaintances,  except  with  Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  who  subse- 
quently called  upon  him,  and  took  him  to  his  country-house  to 
spend  the  evening. 

On  Saturday  he  visited  the  school  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and 
examined  its  system  of  instruction,  particularly  as  applied  to 
the  teaching  of  articulation.  Institutions  of  this  class  he  evi- 
dently made  a  subject  of  more  than  ordinary  attention;  and  one 
of  his  chief  objects  was,  as  evidently,  to  obtain  some  distinct 
and  -well-founded  views  touching  the  question  whether  the  at- 
tempts to  teach  articulation  to  deaf  mutes  were  likely  to  prove 
generally  successful.  His  journal  shows  that  his  original  doubts 
on  this  point  were,  on  the  whole,  confirmed  rather  than  removed, 
by  what  he  saw  in  the  various  European  institutions  which  he 
visited. 

He  also  inspected  some  magnificent  cotton-factories  during 
the  day ;  and,  at  dinner  with  Mr.  Smith,  became  acquainted  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Stowell,  an  able  evangelical  preacher  of  the  estab- 
lished Church,  for  whose  use  "a  handsome  new  chapel"  was 
nearly  in  readiness ;  and  with  Mr.  Richard  Roberts  of  Pendleton, 
brother  to  Josiah  Roberts,  Esq.,  with  whom  Dr.  Milnor  became 
well  acquainted  in  London. 


440  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

His  Sabbath  in  Manchester  was  a  day  of  more  than  usual 
spiritual  refreshment.  He  attended  Mr.  Stowell's  services  morn- 
ing and  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening  went  to  hear  the  Rev.  Mr. 
McCall,  minister  of  an  independent  chapel.  Of  the  three  sermons 
he  took  copious  notes,  which  evince  that  they  were  as  full  of  the 
marroW  of  the  Gospel  as  they  were  distinguished  for  earnestness 
and  ability. 

In  his  journal  for  Monday  he  has  the  following  entry :  "Break- 
fasted with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stowell,  and  found  him,  as  I  had  antici- 
pated, a  deeply  experienced  Christian  and  a  devoted  minister  of 
Christ.  Nominally,  he  occupies  the  situation  of  an  assistant 
minister ;  but  in  fact,  he  is  the  only  officiating  clergyman  in  the 
chapel  where  I  heard  him  yesterday.    This  chapel  is  the  property 

bf  the  Rev.  Mr.  ,  whose  misconduct  obliged  him  to  leave 

Manchester,  and  who  was  glad  to  put  his  building  in  charge  of  a 
man  the  very  opposite  of  himself  in  religious  views  and  in  moral 
conduct,  but  whose  faithful  ministry  would  fill  the  chapel  and 
bring  him  a  handsome  revenue.  All  the  seats  being  rented,  he 
receives  an  interest,  after  paying  Mr.  Stowell's  salary,  far  beyond 
what  any  other  investment  of  his  money  Would  produce.  He  is 
so  sensible  of  the  benefits  of  evangelical  preaching,  in  this  point 
of  view,  that  he  has  given  Mr.  Stowell  the  privilege  of  appoint- 
ing his  successor.  I  was  sorry  to  learn  that  Manchester  is  not 
so  highly  favored  in  the  established  Church  as  among  the  dis- 
senters, with  ministers  of  eminent  talent;  and  that  the  clergy 
of  the  former  are  considerably  disunited  by  doctrinal  varieties; 
some  being  low  Armenians,  and  others  Calvinists  of  the  highest 
grade.  Much  coolness  in  their  intercourse  with  each  other  is  the 
result." 

"After  breakfast,  I  went  with  Mr.  Stowell  to  an  infant-school 
supported  by  his  congregation.  It  is  under  the  charge  of  a  male 
teacher,  assisted  by  his  wife,  and  contains  150  pupils.  The 
teacher  is  a  man  of  ordinary  education,  but  of  superior  natural 
abilities,  which  he  has  certainly  applied  in  a  very  effectual, 
though,  in  some  respects,  novel  manner,  to  the  business  of  infant- 
school  instruction.  His  method  of  engaging  and  sustaining  the 
attention  of  his  little  scholars  is  quite  peculiar ;  and  I  have  seen 
no  establishment  of  the  kind  in  which  a  better  result  has  fol- 


MISSION   TO   ENGLAND.  441 

lowed  the  teacher's  efforts.  The  history  of  this  successful  teacher 
of  infants,  as  shortly  given  me  by  Mr.  Stowell,  would  form  an 
interesting  biography;  one  of  the  most  instructive  features  of 
which  would  be,  an  exhibition  of  the  power  of  divine  grace  in 
reclaiming,  after  a  life  of  singular  wanderings,  infidelity,  and 
vice,  accompanied  with  much  suffering  and  misery,  this  object  of 
the  divine  mercy ;  and  transforming  him  into  a  meek  and  pious 
disciple  of  Christ,  and  a  useful  member  of  society. 

"After  dinner  I  left  Manchester,  with  an  impression  alike  of 
its  immense  importance  as  a  manufacturing  town,  and  of  its  un- 
inviting character  as  a  place  of  residence,  except  for  those  inter- 
ested in  its  business.  It  has  some  handsome  public  buildings; 
but,  with  the  exception  of  the  exchange,  they  are  situated  in 
narrow  streets,  where  they  appear  to  no  advantage.  A  few  of 
the  streets  are  wide  and  airy,  and  a  portion  of  the  environs  very 
pleasant;  but  the  interior  of  the  town  is  in  general  disagreeable 
and  gloomy.  As  to  all  business  objects,  however,  it  is  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  places  in  the  kingdom ;  and  those  who  are  mak- 
ing fortunes  in  the  town,  have  no  difficulty  in  rendering  their 
families  comfortable  in  rural  villas  or  terraced  rows  of  genteel 
houses,  which  are  every  year  increasing  in  the  neighborhood. 

"With  one  thing  I  was  much  grieved.  In  returning  from 
Mr.  Smith's,  in  the  Crescent,  to  Albion  hotel,  Piccadilly,  on  Sat- 
urday evening,  I  saw  more  drunken  men,  women,  and  boys,  than 
I  ever  before  beheld  in  the  same  space  of  time.  Temperance 
societies  will,  I  hope,-  remedy  this  deplorable  state  of  things ;  and 
I  am  happy  that  they  have  been  commenced  with  encouraging 
prospects  of  success.  Intemperance  is  becoming  increasingly 
prevalent  among  the  lower  orders  in  England  ;  but  I  everywhere 
find  it  asserted,  that  among  the  middle  and  higher  orders,  no  in- 
crease of  the  evil  is  perceptible.  It  is  therefore  difficult  to  con- 
vince these  classes  of  the  utility  of  temperance  societies,  except 
for  the  reformation  of  the  lower.  I  am,  however,  persuaded  that 
there  is  enough  of  the  evil  among  all  ranks  to  make  the  universal 
establishment  of  these  societies  useful ;  and  I  have  consequently 
everywhere  urged  them  upon  the  attention  of  those  with  whom 
I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  communicating  on  this  important 
subject." 


442  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

In  passing  from  Manchester  to  Sheffield,  Dr.  Milnor  traversed, 
though  without  leisure  to  examine,  the  singularly  fine  scenery  of 
Derbyshire,  with  its  peak,  castle,  and  caverns,  and  with  its  lovely 
vales  succeeded  by  lone  moorlands ;  reaching  Sheffield  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  Monday,  August  23. 

Here  his  letters  soon  made  him  acquainted  with  the  Sander- 
sons and  Mr.  Ibbotson  of  the  busy  world,  with  Mr.  Bronson  and 
Mr.  Brookfield  of  the  law,  and  with  Montgomery  of  the  Christian 
Lyre.     Of  the  last,  his  journal  speaks  thus : 

"I  found  him,  as  I  had  been  led  to  expect,  living  in  a  retired 
wayj  with  two  maiden  ladies,  the  Misses  Gales,  sisters  to  Mr. 
Gales  of  North  Carolina,  and  aunts  to  Joseph  Gales  of  the  Na- 
tional Intelligencer  of  Washington.  During  his  nonage,  Mr. 
Montgomery  left  the  Moravian  seminary  near  Leeds,  at  which  he 
was  receiving  his  education,  and  came  to  Sheffield,  where  he 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  elder  Mr,  Gales.  Some  years  later, 
Mr.  Gales,  having  encountered  some  difficulties  with  the  govern- 
ment as  publisher  of  a  newspaper,  left  England  for  America; 
and  Mr,  Montgomery  took  charge  of  the  Iris  as  its  printer  and 
editor.  AVhile  in  this  employment,  he  also  offended  the  adminis- 
tration by  republishing  a  patriotic  song,  although  it  had  appeared 
in  several  other  papers,  and  was  sentenced  to  nine  months'  im- 
prisonment in  the  jail  at  York,  He  endured  his  sentence  with 
becoming  fortitude ;  wrote,  during  his  confinement,  a  little  vol- 
ume of  poems,  now  very  scarce,  called  'Prison  Amusements,'  and 
came  out  with  the  result  which  generally  attends  unrighteous 
persecution — the  sympathy  of  his  friends,  and  renewed  patronage 
for  his  paper," 

"He  received  his  religious  impressions  under  the  ministry  of 
the  Methodist  church,  but  continues  a  member  of  the  Moravian, 
His  piety  is  deep-toned  and  decided,  though  cheerful  as  it  is 
ardent.  Its  practical  exhibition  is  seen  in  his  engagement  in  all 
the  works  of  piety  and  beneficence  for  which  Sheffield  is  distin- 
guished. No  man  can  be  more  beloved  and  respected  for  his 
unassuming  devotion  to  the  interests  of  religion,  morals,  and 
science,  or  for  the  varied  talent  which  he  has  exhibited.  My 
first  interview  affected  me  with  the  most  favorable  impressions 
of  his  character,  and  all  my  subsequent  intercourse  with  him, 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  ■         443 

and  all  the  information  which  I  received  from  his  neighbors, 
confirmed  and  deepened  them. 

"  Immediately  after  I  left  Mr.  Montgomery,"  at  the  close  of 
this  first  interview,  '^  I  called  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Best,  of  St.  James' 
Episcopal  chapel,  who  soon  after  waited  on  me  with  a  venerable 
layman,  Mr.  Hodgson,  a  gentleman  of  fortune,  who  devotes  his 
time  and  his  income  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  through  the  various 
means  of  its  promotion  with  which  he  is  presented  in  this  thriv- 
ing place.  But  when  he  called,  I  had  gone  to  visit  my  friend 
Mr.  Congreve,  a  worthy  disciple  of  Christ,  who  first  obtained  a 
hope  of  mercy  in  St,  George's,  while  on  a  temporary  visit  of 
business  at  New  York.  I  was  delighted  to  find  him  an  estab- 
lished, happy,  working  Christian,  with  as  single  a  dependence  as 
I  could  desire,  upon  the  unmerited  mercy  of  his  reconciled  Father 
in  Christ  Jesus." 

On  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  Dr.  Milnor  rapidly  extended  his 
acquaintance  with  the  interesting  religious  society  of  Sheffield, 
and  consented  "  to  address  a  public  meeting  of  all  the  Bible  asso- 
ciations of  the  t6wn  on  Friday  evening."  He  was  under  an  en- 
gagement of  some  standing  to  make  his  home,  while  in  Sheffield, 
at  Darnell  Hall,  the  residence  of  Mr.  John  Sanderson,  about  three 
miles  from  town ;  but  as  Mr.  Sanderson  was  absent  when  he 
arrived,  he  consented  to  abide  with  his  old  friend  and  parishioner 
Mr.  Congreve,  until  the  return  of  his  expected  host.  On  Tues- 
day evening  he  lectured  for  Mr.  Best,  in  the  room  of  one  of  the 
"  eleven  districts,"  into  which  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  Shield 
have  divided  the  town,  for  the  purpose  of  accommodating  "  the 
working  classes,  as  well  as  many  of  a  higher  grade,"  with  stated 
weekly  instruction ;  and  much  of  Wednesday  was  spent  in 
viewing  the  extensive  steel- works  of  the  Messrs.  Sanderson,  and 
those  of  Naylor,  Hutchinson,  Vickars,  and  Co.,  and  in  witnessing 
the  process  of  converting  iron  into  steel.  He  also  visited  the 
room  of  the  Philosophical  Society,  of  which  Mr.  Montgomery  was 
the  first  president ;  the  extensive  show-room  of  Messrs.  Pixley 
and  Co.;  and  the  rolling-mills,  tilting-hammers,  and  other  ap- 
pendages to  the  vast  iron  and  steel  manufactures  of  Sheffield. 

"  Thursday  morning,  August  26,"  Dr.  Milnor  says,  "I  spent 
the  forenoon  in  writing,  particularly  a  part  of  it  in  making  the 


444  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

rough  draft  of  an  answer  to  Bishop  Hobart's  letter  ;  which  I  hope 
God  has  enabled  me  to  do  with  a  Christian  temper,  while  at  the 
same  time  I  utterly  disclaim  his  unfounded  charge. 

"  Dined  with  Mr.  Ibbotson  at  the  Globe  works.  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery, and  Mr.  Holland,  author  of  the  Life  of  Summerfield, 
were  of  the  party.  The  company  being  all  professedly  religious, 
the  conversation  also  was  of  that  character.  Mr.  Montgomery 
was  in  one  of  his  best  moods,  and  rarely  have  I  heard  a  more 
pleasing  and  earnest  advocate  of  experirt)ental  religion.  No  con- 
troversial differences  were  allowed  to  give  asperity  to  our  inter- 
course ;  and  with  the  intellects  and  feelings  of  such  men  as  Mont- 
gomery and  Holland  employed  on  so  delightful  a  theme  as  that 
of  genuine  Christianity,  its  character,  state,  and  glorious  pros- 
pects, I  could  only  regret  the  arrival  of  the  hour  of  our  separa- 
tion. Mr.  Holland  is  a  layman,  the  present  editor  of  the  Iris,  the 
intimate  friend  of  Montgomery,  and  like  him,  a  poet." 

At  eleven  o'clock  Friday  morning.  Dr.  Milnor  went  with  Mr. 
Best  to  the  stated  monthly  meeting  of  the  Female  Church  Mis- 
sionary Association,  composed  of  pious  ladies  of  all  the  Episcopal 
congregations  of  Sheffield,  and  lectured  before  them  for  an  hour 
from  Romans  10 ;  after  which,  he  dined  with  a  small  party  of 
friends  at  Mr.  Congreve's.  Mr.  Montgomery  was  detained  by 
business  from  the  dinner,  "but  came  in  immediately  afterwards," 
says  Dr.  Milnor,  "  and  again  gratified  us  with  the  exhibition  of 
high  intellect,  united  with  deep  spirituality,  and  a  most  ardent 
interest  in  all  the  means  which,  in  our  favored  day,  the  provi-i 
dence  of  God  has  put  in  action  for  the  advancement  of  Christ's 
kingdom  in  the  world  and  in  the  hearts  of  men." 

From  the  dinner-party  they  all  adjourned  to  the  public  meet- 
ing, which  had  been  called,  of  all  the  Bible  associations  of  Shef- 
field. At  this  meeting  also  Dr.  Milnor  made  an  address.  He 
occupied  an  hour  in  "  giving  some  account  of  the  state  of  religion 
and  of  religious  institutions  in  America,  especially  in  relation  to 
the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  and  of  Tracts ;  and  in  consid- 
ering what  was  the  duty  of  every  Christian  under  the  peculiar' 
circumstances  of  the  present  times."  "  Mr.  Montgomery  made 
the  closing  speech,  with  a  warm  glow  of  religious  feeling,  and 
an  affectionate  importunity  of  expression.     His  only  difficulty 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  445, 

seemed  to  lie  in  finding  vent  for  the  flood  of  ideas  that  constantly 
rushed  into  his  mind.  This  made  him  occasionally  stammer  for 
a  moment ;  but  a  short  pause  always  restored  his  self-possession ; 
and  his  plain  but  forcible  delivery  riveted  the  attention  of  his 
hearers.  His  acknowledgments  to  myself,"  adds  Dr.  Milnor, 
"  were  full  of  Christian  warmth  and  affection ;  and  his  allusions 
to  my  country  of  most  touching  interest." 

On  Saturday,  he  accompanied  Mr.  John  Sanderson,  who  had 
now  returned  from  Birmingham,  to  his  fine  old  country-mansion, 
Darnel  Hall,  surrounded  by  grounds  of  the  most  perfect  neat- 
ness, and  covered  with  the  richest  verdure.  *  At  this  charming 
retreat  he  remained  till  the  Monday  following,  attending  service 
Sunday  morning  at  St.  James',  where  he  heard  an  impressive 
discourse  from  Mr.  Best ;  at  the  parish  church  in  the  afternoon, 
where  the  vicar,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sutton,  preached ;  and  at  St.  George's 
chapel  in  the  evening,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Langston  officiated. 
As  usual,  when  interested  in  what  he  heard,  his  journal  for  the 
day  consists  chiefly  of  copious  abstracts  of  the  three  sermons, 
to  which  he  thus  listened.  He  adds,  however,  the  following  note 
touching  the  good  vicar  : 

"  Mr.  Sutton  was,  some  years  ago,  of  very  different  senti- 
ments and  feelings  from  those  which  he  expressed  in  this  day's 
pious  discourse.  As  vicar,  he  has  the  appointment,  not  only  of 
his  own  curates,  but  of  the  ministers  of  the  chapels,  three  new 
ones  having  been  recently  built  with  the  aid  of  the  Parliament- 
ary commissioners,  making  the  whole  number  in  the  parish  six. 
These,  with  the  parish  church,  are  all  supplied  with  evangelical 
pastors  :  men  who  see  eye  to  eye,  are  universally  beloved  by  all 
denominations,  and  are  giving  a  more  powerful  impulse,  moral 
and  religious,  to  this  populous  town,  than  is,  perhaps,  found  in 
any  other  manufacturing  centre  in  the  kingdom.  Happy  are 
the  people  who  have  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Sutton  to  preside  over 
their  spiritual  concerns,  and  happy  is  Mr.  Sutton  in  being  sur- 
rounded by  men  of  consentaneous  views,  whose  only  strife  is, 
who  shall  most  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel, 
and  most  industriously  labor,  under  God,  to  bring  souls  to 
Christ." 

On  Monday  morning,  he  took  leave  of  Sheffield  and  its  loved 


446  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

circle  of  Christian  spirits ;  adding,  in  his  journal,  this  reference 
to  one  whose  memory  is  dear  to  other  hearts  than  his.  ^ 

"  I  had  parted  with  Mr.  Montgomery  at  his  own  house,  just 
before  evening  service  yesterday,  when  I  took  tea  and  passed  an 
hour  and  a  half  in  delightful  communion  of  feeling  with  this 
gifted  poet  and  most  devoted  Christian.  I  experienced,  in  part- 
ing from  him,  much  of  that  painful  emotion,  which  I  am  now, 
towards  the  close  of  my  visit  to  England,  so  often  obliged  to 
suffer,  and  which  is  excited  by  the  thoughts  of  taking  my  last 
leave,  in  this  world,  of  some  of  the  most  estimable  men  who 
tread  its  surface.  May  it  be  my  blessed  privilege  to  meet  them 
in  insepiarable  union  in  a  better  world." 

According  to  his  wish  it  has  already  happened.  Teignmouth 
and  Ryder,  Grregory  and  Gurney,  Wilberforce  and  Clarkson, 
Zachary  Macauley  and  Bishop  Burgess,  Rowland  Hill  and  Rob- 
ert Hall,  Simeon  and  Chalmers,  William  Allen  and  Hannah 
More,  are  gone  :  Milnor  is  with  them,  and  others  of  the  good  and 
noble  throng  with  which  he  mingled  a  while  on  earth,  are  on  the 
way  :  great  spirits,  all ;  elders  and  saints  in  the  one  holy  church 
universal ;  citizens  ever  of  the  one  great  kingdom  of  Christ. 


SECTION  XI. 


Upon  his  return  to  London,  whither  he  went  directly  from 
Sheffield,  Dr.  Milnor's  engagements  were  almost  wholly  of  a 
business  character.  He  found  himself  loaded  with  letters  and 
papers  from  New  York,  many  of  which  developed,  to  his  sur- 
prise, the  anonymous  controversy  which  had  ensued  upon  the 
appearance  of  Bishop  Hobart's  public  letter,  but  of  which,  until 
that  moment,  he  had  been  utterly  ignorant.  He  reflected  upon 
these  developments  like  a  man  writing  under  a  strong  sense  of 
injured  feelings ;  and  filled  page  after  page  of  his  journal  with 
proofs  of  what  he  had  stated  in  his  reply,  and  of  the  profound 
astonishment  of  the  London  religious  public  at  the  manner  in 
which  his  address  before  the  Prayer-book  and  Homily  Society 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND,  447 

had  been  misapprehended.     A  paragraph  or  two  from  this  part 
of  his  journal,  is  all  that  need  now  be  given. 

"  That  I  had  no  intention  to  reflect,  in  the  most  distant  man- 
ner, on  the  character  of  Bishop  Hobart,  is  as  certain  as  that  I 
exist.  When  I  made  the  observations  which  had  reference  to 
him,  I  had  as  friendly  feelings  towards  him  as  I  ever  entertained ; 
nay,  I  felt  under  obligations  to  him  for  his  kindness  in  giving 
me  letters  of  introduction,  and  other  evidences  of  friendship,  on 
the  eve  of  my  departure  from  New  York.  I  had  spoken  grate- 
fully of  his  attentions  ;  and  instead  of  intending  to  be  his  ca- 
lumniator, had  had  frequent  occasions  to  be  his  apologist  in 
relation  to  the  sermon  which  he  preached  on  his  return  from 
England,  and  which  has  given  offence  to  people  of  all  opinions 
in  the  English  church." 

"  I  well  remember  having  seen  the  incorrect  report  in  '  the 
Record,'  soon  after  it  appeared,  and  to  have  been  grieved  at  its 
unfaithfulness ;  but  as  all  the  speeches  were  miserably  reported, 
correction  would  have  been  an  endless  and  an  impossible  task. 
In  respect  to  this  one,  had  I  anticipated  the  hasty  sensitiveness 
of  Bishop  Hobart,  I  might  have  made  the  attempt ;  but  I  thought 
of  no  such  thing." 

"  From  the  time  when  I  received  the  Commercial  Advertiser, 
containing  Bishop  Hobart's  letter,  I  inquired,  in  every  city  and 
town  through  which  I  passed,  where  I  supposed  it  likely  to  be 
procured,  for  'the  Christian  Register,'"  the  official  reporter  of 
the  societies,  "  but  was  unable  to  obtain  a  copy  until  the  last 
day  of  my  visit  in  Edinburgh.  My  subsequent  movements  were 
too  rapid  to  allow  me  to  sit  down  and  prepare  a  reply,  until  I 
reached  Sheffield." 

There  would  be  little  interest  in  following  Dr.  Milnor  through 
the  various  details  of  business  which  now  occupied  his  time  in 
London.  He  attended  faithfully  to  all  the  more  private  commis- 
sions with  which  he  had  come  charged,  but  gave  special  atten- 
tion to  that  which  he  bore  from  "the  Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society "  of  his  own  church.  In  this  duty  he  spent 
much  time,  making  himself  familiar  with  the  internal  arrange- 
ments and  the  external  operations  of  "the  Church  Missionary 
Society,"  and  of  "  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 


448  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

in  Foreign  Parts,"  and  furnishing  himself  with  all  the  informa- 
tion and  documents,  which  could  be  of  service  to  our  church  in 
the  infancy  of  her  missionary  institutions.  In  these  engagements 
he  amply  qualified  himself  for  the  important  position  which  he 
was  subsequently  called  to  occupy  in  the  practical  direction  of  our 
own  missionary  work,  both  domestic  and  foreign. 

He  also  devoted  some  time  to  perfecting  his  acquaintance 
with  the  topography  of  London  and  its  environs,  in  cultivating 
the  Christian  friendships  which  he  had  already  formed,  and  in 
taking  formal  leave  of  the  public  bodies  to  which  he  had  been  a 
delegate.  The  ceremonies  which  marked  his  adieus  to  the  Brit- 
ish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  were  of  sufficient  interest  to  jus- 
tify in  this  place  a  fuller  notice.     We  give  it  in  his  own  words. 

"Monday,  Sept.  6.— At  twelve  o'clock,  attended  a  stated 
meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Soci- 
ety; Lord  Bexley  in  the  chair. 

"  When  I  was  introduced  by  the  secretary,  Mr.  Brandram, 
the  committee  had  been  some  time  in  session.  Soon  after  I 
entered,  his  lordship  rose,  and  addressed  me  to  the  following 
purport. 

"  'It  is  my  pleasing  duty,  reverend  sir,  to  communicate  to  you 
the  result  of  the  deliberations  in  which  the  committee  have  just 
been  engaged.  They  are  informed  that  you  are  about  to  return 
to  your  native  land ;  and  the  committee  cannot  suffer  you  to  de- 
part without  signifying  to  you  the  high  gratification  which  your 
visit  has  afforded  them,  and  the  great  utility  with  which  it  has 
been  attended.  The  resolutions  themselves,  however,  express 
the  feelings  of  the  committee  better  than  I  can  in  any  verbal 
communication.  I  will  read  them.'  Here  his  lordship  read  the 
resolutions,*  and  then  continued :  '  I  will  add  to  what  is  here 

*  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
September  6,  1830, 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Brandram  reported,  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor,  one  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  who  had  been  deputed  to  attend  at 
the  last  anniversary  of  this  Society,  is  about  to  return  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Brandram,  therefore,  submitted  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted  unanimously. 

"  The  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  desire  to  record 
the  great  satisfaction  which  they  have  experienced  in  receiving  the  Rev.  Dr. 


MISSION  TO   ENGLAND.  449 

said,  my  personal  persuasion  of  the  importance  of  uniting  our 
most  strenuous  efforts  for  the  universal  diffusion  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures;  and  particularly  of  maintaining,  between  your  great 
society  and  ours,  a  constant  intercourse  and  cooperation  in  this 
great  work.  This  is  a  most  important  crisis.  There  seems  to  be 
a  mighty  conflict,  just  now,  between  the  powers  of  light  and  dark- 
ness. God  is  on  our  side,  and  will  give  us  the  victory ;  but  the 
battle  must  be  fought,  and  it  will  require  our  most  diligent  and 
united  exertions  to  secure  success.  I  hope,  sir,  your  respected 
society  will  be  persuaded  of  the  obligations  under  which  we  lie  to 
them  for  sending  you  to  us  as  their  representative,  and  of  our 
grateful  sense  of  the  acceptable  manner  in  which  you  have  ful- 

Milnor,  secretary  for  foreign  correspondence  to  the  American  Bible  Society,  as 
the  representative  of  that  institution  at  the  late  annual  meeting.  They  would 
also  express  their  conviction,  that  all  the  supporters  of  the  Society  present  upon 
that  occasion,  shared  largely  ii^  their  own  delight,  as  they  listened  to  the  in- 
teresting statements  delivered  by  Dr.  Milnor,  relative  to  the  present  proceed- 
ings and  prospects  of  the  American  Bible  Society ;  and  they  would  add  their 
persuasion,  that  the  circulation  of  those  statements  in  the  printed  report  of  Dr. 
Milnor's  speech,  in  the  monthly  extracts  for  May  last,  has  produced  a  similar 
feeling  among  the  friends  and  supporters  of  the  auxiliary  societies,  branches, 
and  associations  throughout  the  kingdom. 

"  The  Committee,  therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  Society,  request  Dr.  Milnor 
to  convey  to  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  American  Bible  Society  an  expres- 
sion of  the  unfeigned  delight  with  which  their  labors  are  regarded  in  this 
country,  accompanied  by  their  earnest  prayers,  that  those  labors  may,  from 
year  to  year,  become  still  more  extended,  and  that  wisdom  and  strength,  and 
all  the  necessary  means  of  usefulness,  may  be  vouchsafed  to  them. 

'•'  The  Committee  cannot  but  take  the  present  opportunity  of  solemnly  re- 
cording their  deep  conviction,  as  they  regard  the  aspect  of  the  present  times, 
of  the  necessity  and  importance  of  giving  the  widest  possible  circulation  to  the 
inspired  volume,  as  the  only  infallible  rule  of  truth,  of  devotion,  and  practice ; 
and  the  encouragement  they  experience  in  witnessing  the  existence  of  a  sim- 
ilar feeling  on  the  part  of  their  brethren  in  America;  while  they  would  unite 
with  them  in  ascribing  all  glory  to  Him  who  has  put  it  into  their  hearts  to 
make  the  effort^  in  which  they  are  mutually  engaged,  and  who  has  crowned 
those  efforts  with  such  manifest  tokens  of  his  favor. 

"  The  Committee  desire,  further,  to  express  towards  Dr.  Milnor  personally, 
their  unfeigned  feelings  of  brotherly  affection,  and  to  commend  him  to  the 
protection  of  his  heavenly  Father,  that  he  may  return  in  safety  and  comfort 
to  the  bosom  of  his  family,  and  be  permitted  to  resume  his  important  duties, 
both  as  minister  of  St.  George's  church,  and  secretary  for  foreign  correspond- 
ence to  the  American  Bible  Society. 

"TEIGNMOUTII  President. 
"  BEXLEY,  Vice  President." 
Mem.  MUnor.  29 


450  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

filled  the  honorable  trust  committed  to  your  charge.  Be  assured, 
reverend  sir,  we  shall  retain  a  grateful  remembrance  of  your 
public  services,  and  of  the  personal  intercourse  which  we  have 
had  with  you.  You  carry  with  you  our  high  respect  and  esteem, 
our  Christian  affection  and  regard.  Our  earnest  prayers  will 
attend  you,  that  you  may  be  favored  with  a  safe  and  prosperous 
voyage ;  that  you  may  meet  your  beloved  family  in  health  and 
happiness ;  that  your  multiplied  labors  may  be  prolonged  to  your 
congregation,  and  to  this  and  other  useful  operations  of  our  day 
in  which  you  are  engaged ;  and  that  we  may  at  last  meet  you 
in  God's  heavenly  kingdom.' 

"  This  address  was  entirely  unexpected,  and  a  little  embar- 
rassed me ;  but  I  stood,  during  its  delivery,  and  answered  in  the 
same  extemporaneous  manner,  nearly  in  these  terms  : 

"  '  My  Loed^I  am  much  affected  by  this  unlooked-for  evidence 
of  the  kindness  of  yourself  and  the  committee.  In  behalf  of  the 
American  Society,  I  return  you  my  thanks  for  the  obliging  man- 
ner in  which  you  have  expressed  your  approbation  of  their  act 
in  sending  a  delegate  to  your  interesting  anniversary,  and  to  con- 
fer with  you  on  the  interests  of  that  great  work  in  which  we  are 
engaged. 

"  'For  your  approbation  of  the  manner  in  which  I  have  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  my  appointment,  I  beg  to  make  my  personal 
acknowledgments,  though  sensible  how  little  I  deserve  the  eulogy 
which  your  lordship  and  the  committee  have  passed  upon  my 
feeble  services.  I  shall  return  to  my  country  with  many  delight- 
ful remembrances  of  my  visit  to  England ;  and  among  them  the 
most  pleasing  will  be,  that  of  my  intercourse  with  the  officers  of 
this  society,  and  the  members  of  its  committee. 

"  'In  taking  my  final  leave  of  them,  will  your  lordship  and 
the  committee  excuse  me  for  reiterating  the  anxious  wish  which 
I  have  heretofore  expressed,  that  one  or  more  delegates  from  this 
society  may  be  sent  to  the  anniversary  of  ours  next  spring? 
Nothing,  I  am  convinced,  will  be  found  more  promotive  of  union 
aod  cooperation  between  the  two  institutions,  than  this  inter- 
change of  friendly  gratulations  and  mutual  aid  at  our  yearly 
commemorations.  I  venture  to  assure  your  lordship,  that  your 
delegates  will  be  received  with  Christian  kindness  and  respect  in 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  451 

our  ruder  land  ;  and  perhaps,  while  they  are  profiting  us,  and  as- 
sisting the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  western  world,  they  may  find 
some  gratification  in  the  scenery  of  our  country,  and  in  a  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  our  institutions  and  people. 

"  '  Your  lordship  and  the  committee  will  allow  me  to  say  with 
what  grateful  emotions  I  receive  your  kind  wishes  for  my  safe 
return  to  my  beloved  family  and  flock.  I  will  detain  you  from 
your  important  duties  no  longer  than  to  add,  that  I  sincerely  re- 
ciprocate the  feelings  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  express 
towards  me,  by  imploring  a  blessing  on  your  labors  in  our  glori- 
ous cause,  and  praying  that  health  and  happiness  may  attend 
you  individually  here,  and  that  the  felicity  of  heaven  may  be  yoUr 
everlasting  portion.' 

"His  lordship  replied,  that  the  committee  were  fully  im- 
pressed with  the  duty  and  advantage  of  sending  one  or  more  del- 
egates to  America,  as  proposed  by  me  ;  but  the  difficulty  of  find- 
ing gentlemen  who  were  fitted  for  the  office,  and  at  the  same 
time  willing  to  assume  it,  had  hitherto  prevented  any  positive 
measure  on  the  subject.  '  I  am  persuaded,'  he  added,  '  there  is 
not  one  of  us  who  would  not  consider  himself  highly  honored  by 
such  a  commission,  though  many  obstacles  might  lie  in  the  way 
of  its  acceptance.  We  shall,  however,  keep  the  matter  before 
us ;  and  if  it  can  be  accomplished,  it  will  afford  us,  reverend  sir, 
the, greatest  pleasure  to  comply  with  your  suggestions.' 

"After  remaining  with  the  committee  a  short  time  longer, 
other  engagements  obliged  me  to  withdraw." 

After  this  meeting,  Dr.  Milnor  went  to  dine  again  with  Zach- 
ary  Macauley,  of  Christian  Observer  memory ;  and  his  account 
of  the  occasion  is  worthy  of  preservation. 

"Mr.  Maoauley's  personal  appearance,"  says  he,  "is  that  of 
a  heavy,  dull  man ;  but  in  reality  he  is  entirely  the  opposite  of 
this.  One  of  his  friends  observed  to  me,  '  He  is  a  library  of 
knowledge  ;  and  it  is  quite  a  common  thing  among  us,  on  almost 
all  subjects,  if  a  question  is  asked  which  we  are  unable  to  an- 
swer, to  say,  '■  Well,  we  '11  ask  Macauley ;  he  can  tell  us.'  He 
is  full  of  conversation,  but  glad  to  hear  that  of  others ;  and  when 
it  depends  on  him  to  give  it  a  direction,  it  is  uniformly  to  serious 
and  important  subjects.     He  is  a  man  of  decided,  cheerful  piety, 


452  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

and  of  great  usefulness  in  many  of  the  national  institutions 
established  for  its  promotion.  Of  the  committee  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  he  is  a  very  active  member,  as  well 
as  of  several  other  societies. 

"  Mr.  Macauley  is  well  acquainted  with  Robert  Owen,  who  is 
giving  public  lectures  in  London,  on  his  plans  for  the  reformation 
of  the  world  by  the  substitution  of  reason  for  revelation.  He 
considers  Owen,  as  do  many  others,  to  be  partially  deranged ;  of 
which  there  can  be  no  stronger  evidence  than  the  delusion  under 
which  his  mind  continually  labors,  that  his  abstruse  disquisitions 
before  his,  for  the  most  part,  illiterate  audiences,  are  actually 
producing  a  great  revolution  in  public  sentiment ;  and  that,  in  a 
short  time,  government  itself  will  openly  espouse  his  Utopian 
schemes.  Some  years  ago,  before  his  infidelity  was  so  well 
known,  he  had  a  conference,  at  his  own  request,  with  a  number 
of  distinguished  gentlemen,  including  several  who  then  belonged 
to  the  administration.  They  listened  to  his  strange  develop- 
ments, and  there  the  matter  ended;  but  he  told  Mr.  Macauley 
he  was  confident  he  had  made  the  whole  company  converts  to  his 
scheme.  On  another  occasion,  he  fancied  that  the  bishops  and 
clergy  were  beginning  to  see  their  errors,  and  would  embrace  his 
views.  He  called  on  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the 
Bishop  of  London,  who  treated  him  civilly,  and  as  Macauley  ex- 
pressed it,  bowed  him  out  of  the  house.  Their  silence  in  relation 
to  his  communications  Was  to  him  conclusive  evidence  of  entire 
coincidence  in  his  views  ;  and  he  reported  to  Macauley,  very  ex- 
ultingly,  his  success  with  these  dignitaries  of  the  Church.  Mr. 
Macauley  told  him  perhaps  he  was  mistaken  in  this ;  and  that 
the  right  way  to  test  the  matter  would  be  to  engage  them  to 
bring  before  Parliament  some  proposition  on  the  subject.  He 
took  the  hint,  and  actually  called  upon  them  again,  and  made 
the  suggestion  recommended ;  when  they  soon  gave  him  to  un- 
derstand, what  courtesy  had  before  prevented,  that  they  consid- 
ered him  a  visionary,  and  his  plans  downright  nonsense. 

"  The  community,  as  he  termed  it,  at  Lanark  in  Scotland, 
owes  any  success  that  has  attended  it,  as  a  large  manufacturing 
establishment,  to  his  having  as  his  associates,  religious  men. 
"William  Allen,  the  distinguished  Quaker,  was  captivated  with 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  453 

some  parts  of  his  scheme,  and  united  with  him ;  but  at  once  de- 
parted from  so  much  of  it  as  went  to  exclude  the  services  and 
influences  of  religion ;  and  their  determination  to  lay  aside  many 
other  of  his  whims  led  to  the  necessity  of  finally  dismissing  him 
from  all  agency  in  the  concern. 

"  Mr.  Macauley  is  on  terms  of  friendship  and  intercourse  with 
Mr.  Drummond,  Mr.  McNeile,  and  others  of  the  prophetical 
school,  and  speaks  highly  of  the  talents  and  piety  of  many  of 
them ;  but  he  has  not  the  slightest  tincture  of  their  errors,  and 
thinks  the  absurdities  into  which  those  of  them  who  are  church- 
men are  now  running,  of  uniting  ultra-high-churchmanship  with 
excessive  Calvinism,  rigid  views  of  election  with  baptismal  re- 
generation, full  assurance  as  a  necessary  part  of  true  faith,  with 
declamations  against  obedience  as  any  evidence  of  its  being  war- 
rantably  asserted;  the  persuasion  of  the  speedy  advent  of  Christ, 
with  opposition  to  Bible  societies  and  other  religious  efforts :  these, 
with  other  strange  views  about  the  continuance  of  the  power  of 
miracles,  the  universal  pardon  of  sin,  the  justification  of  the  elect 
before  their  actual  conversion,  etc.,  will  be  likely  to  prevent  the 
general  spread  of  their  main  error,  that  of  looking  for  the  coming 
of  Christ  to  establish  a  temporal  kingdom  upon  earth,  instead  of 
his  coming  into  the  hearts  of  men  by  the  enlightening  and  sanc- 
tifying influences  of  his  Spirit ;  and,  after  the  millennium,  appear- 
ing with  power  and  great  glory  in  the  heavens,  as  the  final  Judge 
of  quick  and  dead." 

It  would  be  pleasing  to  read  Dr.  Milnor's  account  of  his  din- 
ner on  Saturday,  Sept.  11,  with  that  unostentatious  Christian 
nobleman,  Lord  Bexley,  at  his  beautiful  seat,  Foot's  Cray,  in 
Kent,  twelve  miles  from  London ;  but  his  journal  has  already 
occupied  more  space  than  was  intended  in  his  memoirs,  and  the 
reader  must  therefore  hi^sten  with  us  to  the  period  of  his  return 
to  America. 

Before  his  final  departure  from  London  he  made  an  excursion 
to  Cambridge,  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  acquainted  at  the 
university.  Unfortunately,  most  of  the  professors  had  availed 
themselves  of  the  privilege  of  vacation  and  were  absent,  but  he 
found  delightful  intercourse  with  one  whom  he  styles  "  an  Israel- 
ite indeed,"  Professor  Parish,  "  a  man  of  learning  and  piety,  and 


454  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  most  unassuming  and  amiable  manners."  Nor  did  he  miss 
an  opportunity  for  further  acquaintance  with  "the  venerable 
Simeon,  who  for  fifty  years  had  been  a  blessing  to  the  university 
and  town  of  Cambridge." 

On  his  way  from  London  to  Cambridge,  he  had  a  delightful 
fellow-traveller  in  a  young  gentleman  of  the  name  of  Sutton,  a 
graduate  from  Cambridge,  who  also  accompanied  him  on  his  return. 
The  acquaintance  originated  a  somewhat  amusing  anecdote. 

"In  the  course  of  our  ride,"  he  says,  "a  gentleman  who  sat 
beside  me  observed,  that  he  had  never  seen  a  more  striking  like- 
ness than  between  me  and  my  son ;  and  our  consequential  coach- 
man added,  that  he  had  been  observing  the  same  thing.  '  There 
is  no  mistake  there,'  said  he.  '  No  child  ever  was  more  the 
image  of  a  parent.'  Their  impressions  were  so  strong,  that  they 
could  hardly  be  persuaded  we  were  not  joking  in  our  denial  of 
any  relationship  to  each  other.  I  was  unduly  flattered  by  the 
alleged  resemblance,  for  I  have  rarely  seen  a  more  pleasing,  ami- 
able, and  interesting  youth." 

Having  despatched  all  matters  of  business,  and  taken  all  his 
other  adieus,  his  closing  visit  in  London  was  to  the  truly  noble 
president  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  Lord  Teign- 
mouth,  in  Portman-square. 

"We  found  his  lordship,"  he  remarks,  "in  his  library.  He 
is  now  eighty-six  years  of  age,  and  experiences  many  of  the  in- 
firmities of  a  man  of  such  advanced  years.  He  received  me  with 
great  affability  of  manner,  and  expressed  much  regret,  that  his 
indisposition  had  prevented  his  attending  the  anniversary  of  the 
Bible  Society,  and  deprived  him  of  the  pleasure  of  paying  me 
personal  attentions  during  my  stay  in  England.  His  memory  of 
recent  transactions  has  become  very  imperfect ;  and  that,  more 
than  any  other  circumstance,  has  latterly  unfitted  him  for  the 
active  duties  of  president,  which  he  has  chiefly  devolved  on  Lord 
Bexley. 

"  "We  spent  an  hour  with  his  lordship,  and  the  interview  left 
a  strong  impression  on  my  mind  in  favor  of  his  piety  and 
benevolence.  His  literary  talents  will  be  as  highly  estimated 
by  those  who  have  read  his  excellent  biography  of  Sir  William 
Jones.     He  conducted  us  to  the  door,  and  desired  me  to  present 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  455 

his  best  respects  to  the  managers  of  the  American  Bible  Society  ; 
to  assure  them  of  the  benefits,  in  his  opinion,  attendant  on  mis- 
sions such  as  mine ;  and  to  communicate  his  particular  regards 
to  Col.  Varick,  our  venerable  president." 

Dr.  Milnor  left  London  on  "Wednesday,  Sept.  15,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Brandram,  on  his  way  to  Liverpool,  taking  Oxford  in 
his  route,  and  stopping  the  first  night  at  Henley -upon-Thames. 
The  inn  at  this  place  is  a  rare  one,  and  tempts  us  to  pause  long 
enough  to  give  Dr.  Milnor's  short  account  of  his  evening  there. 

"  We  arrived  at  Henley  about  dark,  and  took  lodgings  at  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Dixon,  an  inn  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the 
Thames,  and  at  the  entrance  of  the  town.  Mrs.  Dixon  is  a  sin- 
gularly pious  member  of  the  established  Church,  has  a  son  asso- 
ciated with  her  who  is  like-minded,  and  endeavors  to  make  all 
around  her  partakers  of  the  happiness  which  she  enjoys  as  a  con- 
sistent disciple  of  Christ.  Her  establishment  is  large,  and  it  is 
impracticable  for  her  whole  household  to  attend  on  religious  du- 
ties at  any  one  time.  She  therefore  has  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
tures and  prayers  three  times  a  day,  and  makes  her  arrange- 
ments so  that  every  servant  attends  owe,  and  most  of  them  tv.'o 
services  daily.  Mr.  Brandram  being  an  old  acquaintance,  Mrs. 
Dixon  proposed,  soon  after  our  arrival,  that  we  should  allow  her 
to  invite  some  of  her  neighbors  to  Scripture  exposition  and  prayer 
in  the  evening,  and  also  the  following  morning.  Accordingly, 
Mr.  Brandram  read  and  expounded  at  nine  o'clock,  and  I  prayed ; . 
and  the  next  morning,  at  nine,  I  conducted  lecture  and  prayer 
before  a  company  which  filled  a  large  room.  Our  good  landlady 
and  her  son  expressed  much  gratitude,  and  we  took  our  leave  of 
them  for  Oxford  about  ten  o'clock." 

We  have  now  done  with  Dr.  Milnor's  journal'  of  his  visit  to 
England.  For  though,  as  at  Cambridge,  he  saw  all  that  was 
worthy  of  examination  at  Oxford,  yet  he  found  the  latter  univer- 
sity still  more  effectually  vacated  than  the  former — not  a  pro- 
fessor, nor  more  than  here  and  there  a  straggling  student,  within 
the  shades  of  those  venerable  halls.  He  reached  Liverpool  the 
20th  of  September,  and  embarked  on  the  27th.  He  kept  no 
journal  on  his  return-voyage  to  New  York,  had  a  safe,  though 
long  passage,  and  reached  home  on  Saturday,  the  30th  of  October. 


456  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"Wlien  she  approached  the  harbor,  the  ship  received  her  pilot,  and 
as  he  stepped  upon  her  deck  and  recognized  Dr.  Milnor  among 
the  eager  crowd  of  listeners  for  news,  his  first  words  to  him  con- 
veyed the  startling  intelligence,  ^^  Bishop  Hobart  is  deadP'' 

Thus  ended  every  discord  between  those  early  friends.  Their 
course  ran  not  always  smoothly  through  this  jarring  world ;  but 
we  may  believe  it  is  peaceful  now,  not  only  in  their  union  of 
heart,  but  also  in  their  oneness  of  views,  as  they  look  together 
on  unshadowed  truth,  and,  seeing  eye  to  eye,  admire  the  eternal 
things  of  God. 

Much  of  the  correspondence  between  Dr.  Milnor  and  his 
friends,  during  his  absence  in  England,  has  been  preserved ;  but 
so  far  as  his  own  letters  are  concerned,  the  substance  of  them, 
and  even  more  than  their  details,  have  already  been  given  in  the 
extracts  from  his  journal ;  while  as  to  those  which  he  received 
from  others,  having  reference  mainly  to  the  excitement  with 
which  the  controversy  during  his  absence  agitated  the  public 
mind  at  home,  they  add  nothing  essential  to  the  facts  of  the  case, 
as  exhibited  in  the  documents  which  have  been  placed  before  the 
reader. 

To  the  American  societies  which  he  had  represented  in  Eng- 
land, he  made  careful  reports  of  his  doings,  and  from  them  re- 
ceived, expressions  of  heartfelt  thanks.  The  action  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society,  in  particular,  is  noted  in  the  margin.* 

It  has  been  seen  with  what  ready  cordiality  the  vestry  of  St. 
Greorge's  consented  to  his  summer's  absence.     It  is  but  justice 

*  "  American  Biblk  Society — At  a  meeting  of  the  Managers,  Society's 
House,  New  York,  4th  November,  1830, 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  while  this  Board  are  deeply  penetrated  with 
a  sense  of  gratitude  to  Almighty  6od,  for  his  protecting  care  over  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Milnor  during  his  absence ;  for  the  favorable  reception  which  he  met  with 
among  the  friends  of  the  Bible  in  England  and  France ;  and  for  his  safe  return 
to  his  family  and  flock,  and  to  his  important  duties  as  Foreign  Secretary  of  the 
American  Bible  Society ;  this  Board  is  fully  sensible  of  the  very  important 
services  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor  has  rendered  to  the  Society,  by  the  able 
and  acceptable  manner  in  which  he  has  performed,  gratuitously,  the  duties  of 
a  delegate  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  for  which  they  desire 
to  express  to  him  their  sincere  thanks,  and  request  of  Dr.  Milnor  a  correct 
copy  of  his  report,  with  a  view  to  publication. 

"  Extrtict  from  the  minutes. 

"JOHN  PINTARD,  Recording  Secretary." 


^t  LI 8|^ 


//      V-  OF   THE  ' 

MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  l(  U  IT  I  V ^(S^E  S  I  T 

to  them  to  say,  that  with  equally  ready  generosity,  tnfe^Qw JcEly  *l  ^  \>< 
continued  to  him  his  salary  while  abroad,  but  also,  on  his  return, 
relieved  him,  in  a  great  measure,  of  the  extra  expense  of  his 
mission* 

To  himself,  personally.  Dr.  Milnor's  intercourse  in  England, 
and  in  ■  the  other  countries  which  he  visited,  was  a  source  of 
abundant  pleasure,  and  of  real  profit.  Not  ignorant  previously 
of  public  men,  and  public  life,  he  greatly  extended  his  familiarity 
and  intercourse  with  both,  and  returned  laden  with  profitable 
stores  for  thought  and  reflection,  as  well  as  with  delightful 
memories  of  men  and  things.  Nor  did  he  bring  away  blessings 
without  leaving  blessings  behind.  His  elevated  Christian  char- 
acter, and  his  ready  practical  talents,  secured  him  a  facile  and 
useful  currency  in  the  highest  and  best  religious  circles,  and  left 
in  his  pathway  many  precious  and  abiding  impressions  of  an 
active  benevolence.  Four  years  after  his  return^  the  present 
writer  was  in  England,  and  found  himself,  at  almost  every  step, 
meeting  with  traces  of  Dr.  Milnor's  influence,  and  with  proofs  of 
the  high  consideration  in  which  he  was  everywhere  held.  There 
was  a  sweet  savor  to  his  name  in  Great  Britain,  and  a  letter  of 
commendation  from  him  was  itself  a  quick  and  sufficient  pass- 
port both  to  confidence  and  to  kindness,  wherever  kindness  and 
confidence  were  most  to  be  desired. 

In  prefacing  the  introduction  of  his  journal  into  these  pages, 
an  intimation  was  given  that  more  would  be  said  of  the  results 
of  Dr.  Milnor's  mission.     "What  those  results  were,  as  to  the 

*  "  At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's  church,  held  in  the  vestry- 
room,  Nov.  11,  1830, 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  this  vestry  acknowledge,  with  humble 
thanks,  the  merciful  providence  of  Almighty  God,  in  the  preservation  of  our 
cherished  Rector  during  his  late  absence,  and  in  his  happy  return  to  his  con- 
gregation. 

''  Resolved  unanimously,  That  as  evidence  of  our  respect  and  attachment, 
and  in  consideration  of  his  voyage  having  been  undertaken,  and  successfully 
prosecuted,  chiefly  with  a  view  to  benefit  the  religious  and  charitable  institu- 
tions of  the  community,  the  Rector  be  requested  to  allow  us  a  participation  in 
the  extra  expenses  incident  to  his  mission,  and  that  the  Treasurer  is  hereby 
directed  to  pay  him  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  out  of  the  first  unappro- 
priated money  which  may  be  received. 

"  THOMAS  BLOODGOOD, 

"Clerk  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  Georgis't  church." 


458  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

details  of  business  actually  transacted,  the  reader  has  had  some 
opportunity  of  judging.  These,  however,  were  the  least  impor- 
tant that  followed  in  the  train.  The  influence  of  his  mission 
upon  the  relations  of  our  own  Episcopal  missionary  organizations 
and  operations  with  those  of  the  mother  country,  has  been  most 
beneficial.  He  brought  home  an  amount  of  practical  knowledge 
in  the  management  of  missions,  which  we  had  not  before  pos- 
sessed; and  he  opened  channels  of  full  and  free  sympathy  and 
intercourse,  between  ourselves  and  our  brethren  abroad,  where 
there  had  previously  been  but  little  of  the  flux  and  reflux  of 
living  activities. 

His  mission,  moreover,  gave  him  an  interest  and  a  standing  in 
the  cause  of  education  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  which  he  carried 
through  life,  and  which  made  his  subsequent  services  so  impor- 
tant in  the  New  York  institution  for  that  interesting  class  of  his 
fellow-men.  He  obtained,  too,  a  knowledge  of  the  posture  of  the 
affairs  of  Kenyon  college,  in  England,  which  was  afterwards  of 
great  value  to  the  interests  of  that  young  and  imperilled  seat  of 
learning  at  the  west. 

But,  without  dwelling  upon  particulars  like  these,  one  of  the 
happiest  results  of  his  mission  is  seen  in  the  new  relations,  which 
have  since  arisen,  between  the  noble  brotherhood  of  Christian 
societies  in  Great  Britain,  and  their  equally  noble  fraternity  in 
the  United  States;  especially  in  those  mutual  delegations  to 
represent  each  other  at  their  anniversary  celebrations,  which 
have  become  of  such  frequent  occurrence. 

It  is  needless  to  say,  unless  to  such  as  have  not  reflected  on 
this  subject,  that  these  great  religious  associations  in  the  two 
countries,  exhibit  one  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of  our 
age;  not  merely  in  the  vast  amounts  of  money,  which  they 
collect  and  apply  to  the  diffusion,  through  the  world,  of  corre- 
spondingly vast  amounts  of  religious  truth,  and  light,  and  living 
labors,  but  also  in  the  immense  influence  which  they  exert  upon 
society;  in  the  rich  treasures  of  knowledge,  facts,  and  statistics, 
geographical,  historical,  and  scientific,  which  they  are  gathering 
home  from  all  lands ;  and  in  their  practical  action  upon  even  the 
governments  both  of  barbarian  and  of  civilized  countries.  These 
institutions  have  already  a  history  and  a  literature,  which  are 


MISSION  TO  ENGLAND.  459 

yearly  growing  richer  and  richer,  and  which  will  be  known  and 
felt,  not  only  through  all  coming  periods  of  the  divine  kingdom 
upon  earth,  but  also  on  the  pages  of  those  who,  with  an  enlight- 
ened and  adequate  after-thought,  shall  undertake  to  sketch  the 
fortunes  of  the  lower  kingdoms  of  this  world. 

It  will  be  remembered,  then,  that  in  relation  to  these  grand 
institutions,  Dr.  Milnor's  mission  stands  first  in  the  series  of 
delegations  and  interchanges,  which  have  since  characterized 
and  given  such  intensity  of  life  to  their  mutual  intercourse,  and 
which  have  contributed  so  largely  to  quicken  and  deepen  the 
circulations  of  Christian  truth  and  influence  through  the  earth. 
Doubtless,  the  idea  of  this  mission  did  not  originate  with  him ; 
and  it  may  not  be  possible  to  say  with  whom  it  did  originate.  The 
truth  is,  like  many  other  great  things,  it  seems  to  have  origi- 
nated with  no  one  in  particular,  but  with  multitudes  in  common. 
It  was  the  asking  of  the  religious  age.  There  was,  in  the  mind 
of  the  religious  public,  a  deep  feeling  of  the  need  of  such  a  sys- 
tem of  living  intercourse — a  silent  shaping  of  events  towards  an 
open  and  sensible  issue  ;  and  it  was  the  position  which  God,  in 
his  providence,  had  assigned  to  Dr.  Milnor  in  the  affairs  of  active 
American  Christianity,  that  pointed  him  out  as  the  first,  and  per- 
haps the  fittest  embodiment  of  the  idea  thus  distinctly  conceived 
in  the  inner  sense  of  the  age,  and  sent  him  forth  to  be  its  first 
living,  speaking,  and  acting  exponent  before  men. 

Others  have  since  followed  him,  from  both  sides  of  the  waters, 
who  may  have  possessed  higher  powers  of  personal  display,  and 
for  immediate  popular  impression ;  but  few,  if  any,  in  the  series, 
have  equalled  him  in  the  prestige  of  name,  and  standing,  and  well- 
earned,  well-settled  influence  :  while  none  have  surpassed  him  in 
qualifications  for  the  business  of  such  an  agency ;  and  none  have 
left  behind  them  more  hallowed  and  unstained  memorials  as  a 
Christian,  gentleman,  and  friend. 


460  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

PART   V. 

DR.  MILNOR'S  MINISTRY  PROM  1830  TO  1845. 


SECTION   I. 


In  entering  on  an  account  of  that  portion  of  Dr.  Milnor's 
ministry  which  followed  his  return  from  England,  it  will  be 
proper  to  take  a  brief  notice  of  his  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
Kenyon  College. 

Among  the  various  efforts  for  the  endowment  of  that  institu- 
tion, one  resulted  in  founding  "  The  Milnor  Professorship  of  Di- 
vinity." This  professorship  was  endowed  partly  by  members  of 
St.  George's,  partly  by  Bishop  Chase  and  his  brother,  and  partly 
by  individuals,  of  St.  Luke's,  Rochester,  and  elsewhere  ;  and  the 
endowment  was  presented  to  Kenyon  college,  subject  to  the  con- 
dition that  the  nomination  of  the  incumbent  should  reside  in  Dr. 
Milnor  during  his  natural  life.  In  this  professorship  he  of  course 
felt  a  deep  interest,  and  this  interest  very  naturally  extended 
itself  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  institution.  Hence,  when  he 
went  to  England,  he  went  commissioned  by  Bishop  Chase  to 
have  a  friendly  eye  to  the  interests  of  the  college  in  that 
country. 

While  in  England,  Dr.  Milnor  met  the  Rev.  G.  M.  West,  wh(y 
was  then  laboring  as  Bishop  Chase's  chaplain  and  agent,  in  en- 
larging the  fund  for  the  general  endowment  of  Kenyon  college ; 
and  about  the  period  of  his  return  to  America  occurred  the  diffi- 
culties between  the  bishop  and  his  chaplain,  which  resulted  in 
exposing  the  true  character  of  the  latter,  though  not  without 
seriously  affecting  the  public  interests  of  the  former. 

Not  long  after  the  strange  developments  here  referred  to, 
arose  Bishop  Chase's  troubles  with  his  convention,  ending  in  the 
resignation  of  his  jurisdiction  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  and,  as 


HIS   MINISTRY.  461 

involved  in  that,  his  presidency  of  Kenyon  college.  During 
these  developments  and  changes,  the  troubles  of  the  college 
thickened,  and  days  of  darkness  passed  over  its  history.  The 
Milnor  professorship,  the  endowment  of  which  was  not  yet  quite 
full,  was  in  danger  of  being  lost ;  and  the  college  itself  seemed 
almost  sinking  under  its  embarrassments,  made  increasingly 
heavy  by  the  distrust  with  which  Mr.  West  had  led  many  of  its 
former  friends  to  regard  the  management  of  its  interests. 

Through  all  these  trials,  Dr.  Milnor's  kno\Vledge  of  the  affairs 
of  the  institution  in  this  country  and  in  England,  and  his  strong 
interest  in  them,  enabled  and  prompted  him  to  be  of  great  ser- 
vice to  the  bishop  and  his  enterprise.  He  did  much,  as  his  letters 
about  this  date  show,  to  expose  Mr.  West's  absurd  pretensions, 
and  to  prevent  the  injury  of  his  misjudged  plans.  He  pledged 
himself  to  make  up,  out  of  his  own  private  purse  if  necessary, 
the  somewhat  large  deficiency  in  the  endowment  of  the  Milnor 
professorship  ;  and  as  a  means  of  relieving  the  general  embar- 
rassments of  the  college,  counselled  the  sale  of  the  northern 
section  of  the  valuable  college  domain.  His  nomination  of  Dr. 
Sparrow  as  the  first  incumbent  of  the  Milnor  professorship,  placed 
an. able  and  learned  man  at  the  head  of  the  divinity  department; 
and  when  Dr.  Sparrow  accepted  the  professorship  of  systematic 
theology  in  the  Virginia  Theological  Seminary,  the  nomination 
of  Dr.  Fuller  as  his  successor  placed  another  able  instructor  in 
the  same  important  post  of  influence  to  our  church  at  the  West. 
Indeed,  next  to  those  who  have  been  invested  with  the  direct 
responsibility  of  founding  and  managing  Kenyon  college,  few, 
it  is  believed,  have  rendered  it  such  valuable  services  as  Dr. 
Milnor  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  that  through  the  professorship 
which  bears  his  name,  and  which  he  did  so  much  to  establish, 
preserve,  and  perpetuate,  his  influence  will  be  felt,  ages  to  come, 
in  the  dissemination  of  a  sound  theology  and  an  uncorrupted 
piety  throughout  the  most  important  portion  of  our  country.  To 
proceed  now  with  matters  more  properly  connected  with  this 
memoir. 

It  is  a  long  time  since  any  reference  in  these  pages  has  been 
made  to  the  spiritual  condition  of  St.  George's  parish.  The 
following  letter  to  one  of  his  clerical  correspondents  will  show 


462  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

that  but  a  few  months  passed,  after  his  return  from  Europe,  before 
he  was  permitted  to  gather  some  rich  fruits  from  his  labors. 

To ^ — . 


"New  York,  April  8,  1831. 
"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  have  neither  been  gratified  with 
the  much-desired  visit,  nor  favored  with  the  long  letter,  of  which 
a  hope  was  held  out  in  yours,  now  lying  before  me,  of  the  9th 
November,  1830.  But  I  write  not  for  the  purpose  of  upbraiding 
you  with  your  remissness,  because  I  do  not  doubt  your  affection, 
and  because  I  am  equally  in  fault,  having  no  more  right  to  claim 
from  you  evidences  of  continued  regard,  than  I  feel  obligation 
on  myself  to  render  them.  So  the  account  is,  if  not  satisfacto- 
rily, at  least  fairly  settled.  I  am  very  anxious,  however,  that 
you  should  believe  my  silence  has  proceeded  from  no  diminution 
of  affection  towards  one  for  whom,  from  my  first  knowledge  of 
him  as  a  dear  brother  in  Christ,  I  have  not  ceased  to  cherish  the 
purest  and  warmest  regard.  You  are  often  in  my  thoughts  and 
in  my  prayers  ;  and  every  word  of  information  which  I  receive 
of  your  being  blessed  of  our  common  Lord  in  the  work  of  your 
ministry,  makes  me  rejoice  as  if  the  blessing  were  a  boon  be- 
stowed on  myself.  Receive  my  hearty  congratulations  on  the 
favor,  which  I  hear  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  has  manifested, 
in  blessing  your  labors  to  the  conversion  of  sinners  to  himself. 
We  are  told  that  the  Episcopal  church  in  your  city  partakes  in 
that  extraordinary  effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  which  God  is 
there  glorifying  himself ;  and  I  feel  very  anxious  to  be  assured 
of  this  pleasing  fact  by  evidence  under  your  own  hand.  I  know, 
from  my  own,  what  must  be  your  labors  ;  yet  you  must  not 
refuse,  even  if  it  do  occupy  an  hour  that  might  be  otherwise 
profitably  employed,  to  give  me  an  account  of  what  the  Lord 
has  done  and  is  doing  for  you. 

"  You  have,  of  course,  heard  of  the  encouraging  state  of  relig- 
ious affairs  in  New  York.  A  time  of  deeper  solemnity,  in  many 
congregations,  has  never  been  known.  Among  Presbyterians, 
Methodists,  Reformed  Dutch,  and  Baptists,  conversions  have  been 
very  numerous,  and  new  cases  are  every  day  occurring ;  the 
greater  part  from  among  the  youth,  but  many  from  the  ranks  of 


HIS  MINISTRY.  463 

aged  and  apparently  incorrigible  sinners.  In  Dr.  Lyell's  congre- 
gation there  is  more  attention  than  usual.  In  Mr.  Mcllvaine's," 
Brooklyn,  "  much  interest  prevails ;  and  he  has  the  prospect  of  a 
large  addition  to  the  number  of  his  communicants.  To  my  own 
list,  thirty-five  were  added  on  Easter  Sunday ;  and  the  whole 
number  who  communicated  on  that  delightful  day  exceeded  four 
hundred — the  largest  number  to  whom  I  have  ever  been  permitted 
to  administer  the  symbols  of  a  dying  Saviour's  love.  The  in- 
terest still  continues ;  and  I  am  looking,  alas,  with  too  small  a 
measure  of  faith,  for  its  increase. 

-  "  Will  you  please  to  accept  a  little  token  of  my  affection, 
'  Bridges  on  the  Christian  Ministry,'  republished  by  Mr.  Leavitt 
on  my  recommendation  ?  When  shall  we  have  the  privilege  of 
meeting  ?  I  have  not  an  absent  friend  on  earth  whom  I  am  more 
desirous  of  seeing  than  yourself.  Let  me  say,  my  endeared 
brother,  that  fe\y  things  will  be  more  gratifying  to  me,  during 
the  remainder  of  my  rapidly  passing  days,  than  to  know  that  I 
occupy  a  place  in  your  heart,  and  to  cherish  you  as  one  having 
a  most  near  and  intimate  interest  in  my  own.  Let  us  speak 
oftener  with  each  other,  and  strengthen  one  another's  zeal  and 
ardor  in  the  cause  of  Him  whose  we  are  and  whom  we  serve. 
The  Lord  bless  and  keep  you  and  yours.  Commend  me  to  your 
beloved  partner,  and  believe  me  to  be,  in  eternal  bonds, 
"  Your  ever  affectionate 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  following  letter  to  the  same  correspondent  is  given  be- 
cause it  contains  advice,  and  expresses  views,  on  the  subject  of 
removals  from  one  parish  to  another,  which  ought,  perhaps,  in  our 
day,  to  be  more  widely  regarded. 

"New  York,  Sept.  8,  1831. 
"  My  dear  Friend — Your  letter  of  the  5th  I  have  just  received, 
on  my  return  this  morning  from  Newark,  where  I  preached  last 
evening  for  my  friend  Henderson.  That  I  answer  it  thus 
promptly  you  are  to  ascribe,  not  to  my  preparedness  to  do  so,  but 
to  my  desire  to  comply  as  far  as  I  can  with  your  wishes,  and  to 
the  fear  that,  in  this  respect,  I  should  gain  no  advantage  by 
delay. 


464  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"You  will  not  suspect  me  of  affecting  an  interest  in  your 
concerns  which  I  do  not  feel,  when  I  say  that  I  have  thought 
much  of  you  and  Kentucky,  since  we  conversed  together  at  your 
own  house  ;  and  that  I  have  never  been  able  to  think  more  favor- 
ably of  the  project  than  I  did  at  that  timq.  By  information  from 
various  quarters,  I  am  confirmed  in  the  persuasion  that  you  oc- 
cupy a  sphere  of  great  and  growing  usefulness.  So  far  as  the 
objects  of  the  Christian  ministry  are  concerned,  I  can  scarcely 
conceive  of  a  more  desirable  position  for  the  exercise  of  your 
office,  whether  it  regard  your  immediate  or  your  collateral  influ- 
ence. Now  it  appears  to  me,  that  the  influence  which  divine 
Providence  has  from  the  beginning  assigned  you,  is  of  a  religious 
character ;  and  this,  it  does  not  seem  to  me,  will  be  increased  by 

a  removal  to  L ;  on  the  contrary,  it  may  be  impaired  by  its 

association  with  secular  pursuits.  As  to  the  assistant-minister- 
ship,  that  will  not  be  required,  unless  a  new  election  for  bishop 
should,  a  year  hence,  have  a  more  favorable  result  than  the  late 
mismanaged  attempt ;  and  I  fear,  that  if  the  principal  object  for 
removal  be  an  association  with  Mr. 's  laudable  undertak- 
ing," (a  promising  literary  institution,)  "  the  opprobrium  will  be 
cast  upon  you  of  being  biased  by  the  pecuniary  advantages  which 
it  offers,  as  well  as  of  fickleness  and  a  desire  of  change.  Ought 
it  not  to  be  a  principle  with  every  clergyman,  not  to  leave  a  sit- 
uation of  undoubted  usefulness  for  any  other,  until  he  has  evi- 
dence, of  the  most  satisfactory  kind,  that  his  usefulness  will  be 
enlarged  in  that  to  which  he  is  invited  ?  Is  there  such  evidence 
in  the  present  case  ?  After  making  due  allowances  for  very  nat- 
ural feelings  on  the  part  of  Mr. and  Mr. ,  I  do  exceed- 
ingly question  whether  there  is  any  real  preponderance  in  favor 

of  L .     So  far  as  emolument  is  concerned,  the  latter  place 

would  seem,  from  the  statements  of  Mr. ,  to  present  a  pow- 
erful inducement  to  become  his  associate ;  but  it  is  pulpit-teach- 
ing, and  not  literary  instruction,  which  I  take  to  be  the  province 
assigned  you  by  our  common  Master  ;  and  just  in  proportion  as 
a  minister's  situation  calls  him  from  the  former  to  the  latter,  I 
have  ever  seen  his  character  and  influence,  as  an  ambassador  of 
Christ,  deteriorate.  There  is,  indeed,  an  apology  for  a  partial 
and  even  an  entire  transition  from  the  pulpit  to  the  school,  in 


HIS  MINISTRY.  465 

the  incompatibility  with  health  of  the  incessant  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  the  ministry*  But  I  hope  this  is  not  your  case.  Your 
tetnporary  weakness  has  been  produced  by  circumstances  of  a 
special  character,  only  now  and  then  occurring  in  any  congrega- 
tion. Something  also  is  due  to  the  feelings  of  an  attached  peo- 
ple, who  have  a  right  to  expect  the  minister  of  their  choice  and 
affection  not  to  leave  them  but  upon  grounds  of  duty  the  most 
unquestioned. 

"You  will  probably  think  there  is  more  of  decision  in  this 
conclusion,  than  you  had  reason  to  expect  at  the  beginning  of  this 
letter ;  and  I  do  confess,  that  the  more  I  think  upon  the  question 
which  it  discusses,  the  more  averse  I  feel  to  say  one  word  that 
might  lead  to  the  sundering  of  your  present  connection,  unless, 
indeed,  self-interest  should  lead  me  to  acquiesce  in  your  coming 

to  St. ^'s,  should  that  parish — now  in  entire  abeyance  as  to  its 

rector — invite  you  to  its  charge.       ' 

"  But  after  all,  my  dear  brother,  I  have  no  such  partiality  for 
my  own  leanings  on  this  subject,  as  not  to  acquiesce  in  any  con- 
clusion to  which  your  deeper  reflection  and  better  judgment  may 
conduct  you.  I  feel  quite  confident  that  you  will  not  decide 
upon  it  without  a  reference  to  that  great  Being,  from  whom  '  all 
good  counsels  do  proceed ;'  and  ■vv^hatever  may  be  your  conclusion, 
you  will  remain  very  dear  to  me,  and  I  trust  will  esteem  me 
"  Your  faithful  friend  and  Christian  brother, 
^  .  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

In  the  year  1830,  a  "Literary  Convention"  was  held  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  at  which  a  committee  was  appointed  to  con- 
sider and  report,  at  a  future  meeting,  on  "the  propriety  of  study- 
ing the  Bible,  as  a  classic,  in  the  institutions  of  a  Christian  coun- 
try." -  About  the  first  of  November,  1831,  the  convention  re- 
assembled, and  the  committee  presented  their  report.  "  After  an 
extensive  correspondence  with  gentlemen  of  various  religious^ 
opinions,"  they  "  recommended  in  their  report,  that  the  Bible 
should  receive  the  respect  and  attention  due  to  a  classic  in  ouf 
literary  institutions."  ^  To  carry  this  recommendation  into  effect, 
the  convention,  at  their  session  in  1831,  appointed  a  second  com- 
mittee "  to  prepare  and  report  a  plan  of  biblical  instruction,  es- 
pecially in  reference  to  the  academical  and  collegiate  course." 

Mem.HiInor.  30 


466  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

This  important  committee  was  composed  of  Dr.  Milnor  as  chair- 
man, Dr.  Maclay,  W.  C.  Woodbridge,  Professor  Vethake,  and 
Professor  "Woolsey ;  and  was  instructed  to  report  its  plan  at  a 
meeting  of  the  convention  in  October,  1832.  Preparatory  to  this 
final  report,  the  committee,  through  their  chairman,  issued  a  cir- 
cular, addressed  to  all  the  heads  of  colleges  and  academies,  and 
to  other  gentlemen  of  religious  influence  in  the  country,  asking 
such  information  as  might  be  useful  to  the  committee  in  devising 
the  contemplated  plan  for  the  general  study  of  the  Bible  as  an 
academic  and  college  classic.  This  great  measure,  however, 
failed  of  success.  Several  letters,  among  the  papers  of  Dr.  Mil- 
nor, in  reply  to  the  circular  of  the  committee,  show  that  it  met 
with  apparently  insuperable  difficulties.  Yet  the  conception  was 
noble ;  and  the  place  assigned  to  Dr.  Milnor,  in  the  attempt  to 
realize  it,  shows  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  and  the 
relation  which  he  bore  to  the  great  religious  and  philanthropic 
movements  of  his  age. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  return  from  Europe  before  his  life 
assumed  its  wonted  channel,  and  continued  to  flow  on  year  after 
year  in  quiet  but  ceaseless  activity.  In  following  him,  therefore, 
the  rest  of  his  way,  we  shall  have  little  to  do  but  to  give  such 
letters  as  have  been  preserved,  illustrative  of  his  character  and 
course,  notice  some  of  the  more  important  events  in  which  he 
was  yet  to  be  an  actor,  and  add  some  general  views  of  his  posi- 
tion and  influence. 

To  Wm.  H.  Milnor,  at  Philadelphia. 
''  "New  York,  May  3,  1832. 

"  My  DEAR  Son — ^We  learned  verbally  from  Edward  Thompson, 
that  our  friend  Dr.  William  Klapp  is  unwell,  and  that  you  are 
much  occupied  in  attending  to  his  patients.  I  am  very  sorry  for 
the  cause,  but  hope  your  opportunity  of  seeing  practice  may  add 
to  your  improvement.  You  are  aware  of  the  solicitude  which  we 
feel  on  this  subject,  and  how  anxiously  we  look  forward  to  your 
ma;king  an  honorable  debut  in  your  profession,  for  which  I  do  trust 
you  are  now  assiduously  preparing.  I  cannot  too  often  repeat 
to  you  how  much  depends  upon  continued  application,  and  upon 
ascertaining  its  fruits  by  meditation,  and  by  submitting  to  ex- 
amination, ■  ■'»  ■^:<-  ■' 


HIS  MINISTRY.  467 

"  We  feel  anxious  to  hear  of  the  circumstances  of  the  family 
with  which  you  are  now  an  inmate.  We  have  been  told  that 
some  of  its  members  have  recently  been  baptized.  I  sincerely 
hope  this  may  have  included  your  dear  uncle  and  aunt.  I  have 
myself  experienced  so  great  a  blessing  in  religion,  that  nothing 
gratifies  me  more  than  to  hear  of  any  whom  I  love,  coming  under 
its  blessed  influence ;  and  if  I  am  ever  so  favored  as  to  see  you 
giving  up  your  heart  to  God,  it  would  be  one  of  the  happiest 
events  of  my  life.  Do,  my  dear  Henry,  give  this  most  interest- 
ing subject  your  best  consideration ;  and  may  God  grant  the 
desired  result. 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  to  the  same,  revive  re- 
membrances of  the  gloomy  times  which  passed  over  New  York 
in  the  summer  of  1832,  when  "the  cholera"  swept  so  many 
thousands  to  the  grave.  At  the  same  time  they  are  interesting, 
inasmuch  as  they  show,  that  during  all  the  horrors  of  that  wast- 
ing plague.  Dr.  Milnor  deserted  not  his  post,  but  continued  his 
ministries  among  both  the  living  and  the  dead. 

"New  York,  July  ^1,  1832. 
^*  Dear  Henry — The  daily  reports  of  the  board  of  health  will 
inform  you  of  the  general  state  of  things  here  in  regard  to  the 
prevailing  disease.  Yesterday's  report  was  the  most  unfavorable : 
two  hundred  and  two  new  cases,  and  upwards  of  eighty  deaths. 
I  myself  awoke  yesterday  morning  with  a  diarrhoea,  but  under 
Dr.  Stearns'  advice,  took  five  pills  of  his  preparing,  and  this 
morning  find  myself  entirely  relieved.  I  have  lost  but  one 
parishioner,  old  Mr.  Mitchell  of  James-street.  He  was  at  church 
on  Sunday,  sickened  on  Tuesday,  and  died  Wednesday.  Many  die 
in  from  one  to  three  hours  after  the  attack.  Hitherto,  a  very 
large  majority  of  the  cases,  especially  of  those  that  prove  mortal, 
are  of  persons  of  dissolute  or  irregular  habits ;  and  from  the  great 
number  of  drunken  people  seen  in  the  streets,  it  would  seem  as 
if  they  were  bent  on  their  own  destruction.  There  is  no  sick- 
ness in  our  immediate  neighborhood.     M and  his  bar-keeper, 

who  kept  an  abominable  dram-shop,  were  taken  ill  at  nearly  the 


468  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

same  time,  and  died  in  a  few  hours.  I  continue  my  services  as 
usual.  This  afternoon  at  six  o'clock  I  have  my  lecture  in  the 
church,  preparatory  to  communion  on  Sunday  next.  The  con- 
gregation is  very  much  diminished,  but  on  Sunday  last  there 
were  more  than  I  could  have  expected.  This  week,  however,  has 
been  ope  of  considerable  anxiety,  and  many  have  removed. 
"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"JAMES  MILNOR."     . 

To  the  same. 

"New  York,  Aug.  6,  1832. 

"  My  dear  Henry — "We  have  heard,  with  great  regret,  of  the 
indisposition  of  your  cousin  William,  and  some  other  members  of 
the  family  whose  kindnesses  you  are  receiving ;  and,  with  much 
sorrow,  that  the  cholera  has  begun  its  work  in  Philadelphia." 

This  letter  reached  his  son  while  he  was  resident-physician  in 
the  Southwark  cholera  hospital,  to  which  the  first  case  of  the 
disease  in  Philadelphia  was  brought.  He  had  not  informed  his 
father  of  his  position,  lest  he  should  occasion  alarm. 

"With  us  it  continues  its  ravages  among  the  intemperate, 
and  in  some,  but  comparatively  few  instances,  among  those  who 
are  temperate.  It  is  the  remark  of  every  physician  with  whom 
I  have  conversed,  that  in  the  course  of  their  practice,  they  could, 
with  few  exceptions,  trace  every  severe  case  of  cholera  to  intem- 
perance in  drinking,  improper  food,  or  some  other  manifestly  ex- 
citing cause.  The  Rev.  Mr.  H.'s  case  was  lamentable.  He  and 
his  wife  and  child.  Dr.  A.  who  attended  them,  and  a  colored 
nurse,  all  fell  victims  to  this  terrible  disease.  In  Broad-street,  - 
Mrs.  T.,  and  seven  of  her  family  besides,  were  cut  off  in  a  few 
days.  It  is  believed,  that  in  both  these  sad  cases,  local  causes  of 
a  noxious  character  had  a  principal  share  in  their  production  and 
fatality. 

"  Yesterday  I  officiated  twice  in  St.  George's,  and,  with  the 
advice  of  my  vestry,  gave  notice  that  the  church  will  be  closed 
for  the  remainder  of  the  month.  Probably  two-thirds  or  three- 
fourths  of  the  congregation  are  absent  from  the  city ;  and  as  this 
is  about  the  time  of  our  annual  cleaning,  it  was  thought  best  to 
close  for  that  purpose. 

"  I  would  now  willingly  give  the  family  a  little  country  air, 


HIS  MINISTRY.  469 

but  there  is  great  difficulty  in  knowing  where  to  go  with  safety, 
and  at  the  same  time  have  a  favorable  reception.  "We  must 
inquire  and  determine,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  whether  to 
remain  or  go.  I  must  be  principally  at  my  post.  With  our  best 
regards  to  all  our  dear  friends,  I  remain, 

"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

After  the  removal  oT  the  scourge  of  pestilence.  Dr.  Milnor  was 
left  to  spend  a  long  lonely  season  at  home,  in  consequence  of  the 
illness  of  his  younger  daughter  Eleanor.  She  had  become  the 
subject  of  a  nervous  debility,  which  compelled  her  to  travel ;  and 
to  enable  her  to  do  this  with  comfort  and  a  hope  of  benefit,  Mrs. 
Milnor  and  Henry  were  obliged  to  accompany  her.  They  accord- 
ingly took  a  voyage  to  Charleston  and  Savannah,  with  the  pros- 
pect of  remaining  at  the  south  till  the  spring  of  1833.  In  the 
meantime,  his  elder  daughter  Anna  fell  sick  at  home,  and  was 
for  several  weeks  confined  to  her  room  by  an  attack  which  threat- 
ened a  result  in  pulmonary  disease.  This  season,  however,  of 
domestic  gloom  at  length  passed  away,  and  the  whole  family 
were  again  reunited  in  customary  happiness,  though  not  at  once 
in  their  customary  health.  The  travellers  returned  from  the  south 
before  the  middle  of  January.  This  appears  from  the  circumstance, 
that  at  that  time  Dr.  Milnor  himself  was  just  recovering  from 
a  short  but  very  violent  sickness  in  Philadelphia,  whither  he  had 
gone  for  a  brief  visit  after  their  arrival  in  New  York. 

By  this  time  his  son  had  completed  his  professional  studies, 
taken  his  degree  as  doctor  of  medicine  with  credit  to  himself, 
and  made  arrangements  for  commencing  practice  in  Philadelphia. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  which  hie  received  soon 
after  his  settlement  there,  touches  a  subject  not  yet  introduced 
into  these  pages ;  but  without  a  notice  of  which  our  view  of  Dr. 
Milnor's  inner  life  would  be  incomplete.  He  had  as  much  hap- 
piness as  any  father  in  the  respect  and  affection  of  his  children ; 
but,  for  long  years,  he  had  not  the  comfort  of  knowing  that  any 
of  them  were  partakers  of  his  own  "  good  hope  through  grace." 
Many  of  his  letters  evince  how  deep  were  his  fatherly  solicitudes 
for  their  salvation,  and  how  profound  his  Christian  sorrows  over 
the  protracted  delay  to  which  the  realization  of  his  hopes  in  their 


470  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

behalf  was  subjected.     Of  this  the  extract  alluded  to  famishes 
an  affecting  illustration. 

"New  York,  April  15,  1833. 

"Dear  Henry^ — I  received  your  letter,  written  immediately 
on  your  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  as  did  your  mother  the  one 
written  to  her.  I  know  not  that  any  thing  material  has  occurred, 
since  you  left  us,  within  the  circle  of  our  acquaintance.  Our 
Easter  election  for  vestrymen  was  peaceful  and  satisfactory  ;  and 
every  thing  is  as  I  could  wish  it  in  my  congregation,  except  that 
my  desires  are  not  fully  gratified  in  the  increase  of  the  number 
of  those  who  are  willing  to  devote  themselves  to  a  religious  life. 
No  one  circumstance  preys  more  upon  my  spirits,  and  more  im- 
bitters  my  private  meditations,  than  that  neither  of  my  dear  chil- 
dren has  done  so.  The  unhappinoss  is  twofold :  first,  on  their 
account,  for  I  know  that  without  religion  they  cannot  be  truly 
happy  in  this  life,  and  must  be  miserable  in  eternity ;  and  second, 
because  I  fear  I  have  not  done  my  duty  in  their  education,  and 
that,  should  they  be  lost,  their  guilt  and  condemnation  will  lie  at 
my  door.  Reflections  on  these  subjects  sometimes  agonize  my 
heart,  and  almost  unfit  me  for  my  necessary  duties.  One  thing, 
my  dear  son,  is  certain  ;  if  you  have  really  listened  to  my  preach- 
ing with  the  attention  which  your  appearance  from  Sunday  to 
Sunday  has  seemed  to  indicate,  you  must  be  theoretically 
acquainted  with  all  the  great  truths  of  the  Grospel,  and  espe- 
cially with  the  means  by  which  a  sinner  must  be  saved  from 
eternal  ruin.  Why  have  not  those  means  produced  the  desired 
effect? 

"You  are  the  subject  of  my  continual  prayers ;  and  I  will 
hope  that  you  will  not  be  content  with  avoiding  evil  associations, 
but  will  '  seek  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  and  call  upon 
him  while  he  is  near.'  It  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than 
your  accession  to  a  large  estate,  to  know  that  you  had  the  same 
interests,  objects,  and  attachments,  which  I  trust  will  engross  my 
heart  till  I  am  called  to  my  account.  - 1  was  rejoiced  to  hear 
of  the  manner  in  which  you  spent  your  first  Sunday  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  sincerely  hope  that  you  will  uniformly  observe  the 
Sabbath-day ;  and  may  the  Lord,  who  has  not  made  the  ministry 


HIS  MINISTRY.  471 

of  a  parent  effectual  to  your  conversion,  give  that  honor  to  some 
more  devoted  minister  of  Christ.  Accept  the  assurance  of  an 
unceasing  parental  anxiety  for  you,  on  the  part  of  your  dear 
mother,  and  of 

"  Your  affectionate  father, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

During  the  summer  of  1833,  Dr.  Milnor's  letters  to  his  son 
describe  a  partial  return  of  the  illness  of  his  daughter  Eleanor ; 
and  a  voyage  and  journey,  undertaken  by  himself  and  Mrs.  Milnor, 
with  the  interesting  invalid,  to  Portland,  Maine,  and  thence,  by 
land,  across  the  Green  Mountains  to  New  York  again,  in  the 
hope  of  a  more  perfect  reestablishment  of  her  health.  By  the 
blessing  of  God,  their  hope  was  realizfed.  Eleanor  reached  home 
with  many  evidences  of  a  reinvigorated  constitution. 

His  absence  at  the  east  was  longer  than  he  expected.  He 
was,  therefore,  obliged  to  write  to  one  of  his  vestry,  to  secure  a 
supply  for  his  church  on  the  Sunday  before  his  return.  The 
only  part  of  this  letter  of  general  interest,  is  a  paragraph  which 
refers  to  the  important  position,  so  long  occupied  by  him,  as  a 
trustee  of  our  General  Theological  Seminary. 

"  I  regret  very  much,"  says  he,  "  that  circumstances  have 
made  it  impracticable  for  me  to  attend  the  meeting,  next  week, 
of  the  trustees  of  our  General  Seminary;  this  being,  I  believe, 
the  first-  annual  meeting,  except  that  of  the  year  when  I  was 
absent  in  Europe,  at  which  I  have  not  been  present.  I  hope, 
however,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  reach  home  in  time  to  attend 
the  Commencement  on  Friday." 

The  following  was  written  soon  after  his  return. 

"New  York,  July  1,  1833. 
"  My  dear  Friend^I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that 
we  reached  home  in  safety  on  Saturday  evening,  and  with  our 
dear  daughter's  health  evidently  much  improved  ;  and  that  I  was 
able  to  preach  to  my  beloved  people  on  the  following  day  in  the 
forenoon;  while,  in  the  afternoon,  they  were  gratified  with  a 
discourse  from  our  friend  the  Bishop  of  Ohio,  the  last  to  be 
expected  from  him  before  his  departure  for  his  labors  in  the 
west."      [After  his  consecration,  the  previous  autumn,  Bishop 


472  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Mcllvaine  had  spent  several  months  in  a  finally  successful 
attempt  to  raise,  in  various  cities  at  the  east,  the  sum  of 
$30,000,  to  relieve  the  embarrassments  of  Kenyon  college,  before 
entering  on  the  duties  of  its  presidency.]  "He  collected  Enough, 
before  he  left  Philadelphia,  to  make  his  subscriptions  amount  to 
$28,000.  Could  he  have  gone  to  Baltimore,  I  have  no  doubt  he 
would  have  completed  his  desired  sum. 

"All  accounts  concur  in  giving  a  very  favorable  representa- 
tion of  the  seminary  proceedings  last  vreek.  The  dissertations 
of  the  graduates,  it  is  said,  were  excellent  in  spirit  and  in  style. 
Indeed,  my  acquaintance  with  most  of  them,  and  with  many 
others  of  the  students,  inspires  me  with  a  very  pleasing  hope  of 
an  increasing  tendency,  in  that  important  institution  of  our 
church,  towards  moderate  church  views,  and  evangelical  doc- 
trines. 

a  ■  "You  will  see,  by  the  Recorder  of  last  week,  the  delightful 
promise  of  the  collegiate  institution  at  Bristol,  Pennsylvania :  I 
verily  believe  no  attempt  in  the  church,  by  those  of  our  views, 
has  ever  been  made,  from  which  more  good  will  result,  provided 
the  energies  of  the  pious  are  promptly  put  forth  in  its  establish- 
ment and  support.  Let  us  pray  earnestly  for  our  dear  brother 
C.  and  his  associates,  and  for  the  complete  success  of  this  hal- 
lowed work. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"  The  Rev.  John  S.  Stone." 

This  letter,  placed  in  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  shows 
that  Dr.  Milnor  was  disappointed  in  two  of  his  most  pleasing 
anticipations :  his  hope,  that  the  tendency  of  our  General  Sem- 
inary would  be  increasingly  towards  moderate  church  views,  and 
evangelical  doctrines ;  and  his  hope,  that  Bristol  college  would 
live  to  fulfd  its  first  "delightful  promise,"  of  good  to  the  cause 
of  Scriptural  truth  and  godliness.  The  star  of  Bristol  college 
has  long  since  fallen  from  our  ecclesiastical  firmament,  into  the 
darkness  of  utter  extinction;  while  that  of  our  General  sem- 
inary is  suffering  an  occultation,  which  threatens  to  be  gloomier 
than  the  darkness  even  of  extinction  itself.  There  is  blessed 
light  within  it  yet;  but  baleful  shadows  have  fallen  between  it 


HIS  MINISTRY.  473 

and  our  eyes,  portending  "trouble  and  darkness,"  and  the  "dim- 
ness of  anguish,"  to  those  who  look  for  the  breaking  forth  of  the 
true  brightness. 

In  a  letter  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  dated  January  22,  1834, 
soon  after  the  bishop's  full  entrance  on  his  official  duties,  having 
congratulated  him  on  the  encouraging  prospects  which  had 
greeted  his  settlement  in  Ohio,  and  spoken  of  the  disturbances 
in  the  New  York  University — a  new  institution,  in  founding 
and  organizing  which,  Dr.  Milnor  had  taken  a  prominent  part- 
he  inserts  the  following  paragraph,  touching  another  of  the  topics 
of  the  day.  It  shows  the  steadfastness  of  the  grasp,  by  which  he 
held  his  own  original  religious  convictions  and  principles. 

"Your  brother  of ,  (whom  I  do  not  cease  sincerely  to 

love,)  under  the  auspices  of  a  confessedly  powerful  advocate  of 
the  claims  of  the  Church,  is,  I  think,  fast  ascending  towards  the 
topmost  step  of  the  Episcopal  ladder.  I  am  sorry  for  it,  on  the 
score  both  of  propriety  and  of  expediency.  "What  does  that 
beloved  brother  mean,  in  the  address  to  his  convention,  where,  in 
reference  to  Christians  of  other  denominations,  he  speaks  of 
'  withdrawing  ourselves,  in  a  great  measure,  from  their  plans  and 
movements  for  doing  good?'  If  he  refer  to  ultra  new-light 
measures  in  revivals,  etc.,  it  is  well.  But  we  have  never  been 
associated  with,  and  therefore  cannot  'withdraw  from,'  these 
things.  If  he  mean  Bible  and  Tract  operations,  his  course  will 
be  disapproved  by  all  his  old  friends ;  and  will,  I  am  persuaded, 
greatly  impede  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  Church  in  his 
diocese." 

It  had  by  this  time  become  certain,  that  his  son's  attempt  to 
establish  himself  in  medical  practice  in  Philadelphia  would,  in 
order  to  success,  require  a  longer  sacrifice  of  time  than  he  was 
willing  to  make ;  and  he  had  therefore  begun  seriously  to  entertain 
the  purpose  of  applying  for  an  appointment  as  a  surgeon  in  the 
navy.  It  was  this  which  drew  from  his  father  the  following  let- 
ter, containing  general  views  worthy  of  record:  , 

"  New  York,  February  4,  1834. 
"My  dear  Son — ^Your  renewed  suggestion  of  the  navy  project 
has  filled  your  mother  with  sorrow ;  and  I  would  certainly  prefer 


474  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

almost  any  other  attempt  to  this.  A  sea-life  is,  almost  without 
exception,  declared  by  those  who  pilrsue  it  a  most  unpleasant 
one.  Aside  from  danger,  the  unprofitable  associations  to  which 
it  leads,  the  temptations  which  in  the  navy  it  is  constantly  pre- 
senting, the  limitation  of  emolument  with  which  it  bounds  the 
hopes  of  the  physician,  the  sundering  of  the  most  endearing  ties 
of  nature,  which  it  requires — these,  and  many  other  circum- 
stances, induce  me  to  consider  it,  of  all  modes  of  professional 
life,  the  most  to  be  dreaded ;  and  when,  as  a  Christian  father,  I 
add  the  death-blow  which  it  would  almost  certainly  give  to  the 
hope  which  I  desire  to  cherish,  of  my  son's  one  day  being  asso- 
ciated with  me  in  a  hope  worth  more  than  worlds,  I  cannot  think 
of  it  without  the  deepest  grief. 

"Even,  however,  if  your  parents  concurred  in  your  views,  I 
do  not  think  there  is  any  prospect  of  your  obtaining  the  appoint- 
ment. I  am  told  there  are  now  numerous  unsatisfied  applications, 
many  of  them,  no  doubt,  from  known  adherents  of  the  adminis- 
tration. A  preference  will  be  given  to  earlier  applicants,  and 
they  will  be  the  favorites  whose  immediate  connections  are  known 
to  be  attached  to  the  party  in  power.  A  view  to  such  an  appoint- 
ment will,  moreover,  divert  your  attention  from  every  thing  else ; 
and  then  perhaps,  after  all,  you  will  be  disappointed. 

"While  I  highly  approve  of  your  anxiety  to  be  in  a  situation 
which  may  enable  you  to  gain  a  maintenance,  I  think  less  fa- 
vorably of  this  than  of  any  scheme  that  could  be  presented,  more 
especially  in  reference  to  your  wish  to  enter  into  the  married  life. 
The  wife  of  a  navy  surgeon  has  little  before  her  but  a  series  of 
anxieties ;  and  if  he  have  the  proper  feelings  of  affection  as  a 
husband,  his  prospect  is  no  better.  I  would  rather  that  you 
should  abandon  the  profession,  and  seek  your  support  in  some 
other  calling,  than  that  you  should  engage  in  so  unpromising  and 
objectionable  an  experiment  as  this.  But  you  are  not  a  minor, 
and  I  claim  no  right  to  direct  your  destinies.  I  can  only  give 
you  niy  views,  and  then  leave  you  to  pursue  your  own  course. 
. ,  .  •        "  Your  affectionate  parent, 

•     '      •    '  "  JAMES  MILNOR." 

As  an  index  to  some  of  the  movements  of  the  day,  the  follow- 
ing, from  a  letter  to  Bishop  Mcllvaine,  may  be  interesting: 


HIS  MINISTRY.  475 

"New  York,  April  21,  1834. 
"Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  cannot  let  my  young  friend,  Mr. 
W.  H.  Moore,  set  out  on  his  journey  to  Gambler,  without  a  short 
line,  as  well  to  commend  him  to  your  kind  regards  as  to  assure 
you  of  the  affectionate  interest  which  I  constantly  feel  in  all  that 
concerns  your  personal  happiness,  and  the  interesting  charge 
which  divine  Providence  has  thrown  upon  you.  You  have  many 
prayers  offered  for  you  in  this  eastern  region;  and  I  trust  our 
gracious  Lord  is  rendering  answers  in  the  acceptance  and  pros- 
perity with  which  he  is  rewarding  your  self-denying  and  assidu- 
ous exertions.  All  the  accounts  are  favorable  to  the  hope,  that 
the  great  loss  which  we  have  sustained  in  your  separation  from 
us,  will  prove,  through  the  divine  blessing,  an  immense  gain  to 
Ohio  and  the  neighboring  states. 

"  Our  friend has  sailed  in  the  packet-ship  Orpheus,  of 

the  1st  inst.,  for  England,  and  I  was  glad  not  only  to  introduce 
him  to  several  of  our  good  friends  there,  but  to  avail  myself  of  so 
favorable  an  opportunity  of  answering  a  considerable  number  of 
letters,  which  I  had  received  in  the  course  of  the  last  year,  but 
had  not  found  leisure  before  to  acknowledge.  He  has  marked  out 
for  himself  a  far  more  extensive  tour  than  ours,  and  much  longer 
than  I  think  he  will  be  able  to  accomplish,  if  he  return,  as  he 
proposes,  next  fall. 

"  A  few  days  since,  I  received  a  very  kind  letter  from  Dr. 
Gregory,  who  speaks  of  you  in  the  most  affectionate  terms,  and 
of  the  gratification  which  it  afforded  him  to  have  been  instru 
mental  in  the  publication  of  an  English  edition  of  your  Lectures 
on  the  Evidences — a  work  which,  he  says,  '  is  highly  esteemed  by 
Lord  Bexley,  the  bishop  of  "Winchester,  Dr.  Dealtry,  and  other 
competent  judges,  and  is  getting  into  very  good  circulation  in 
England,'  He  speaks  also  in  terms  of  eulogy  of  your  '  faithfully 
simple,  and  touching  farewell  sermon,'  which  he  would  have  had 
printed  for  private  circulation,  had  he  not  lost  the  copy  which 
you  sent  him. 

"  You  have  doubtless  heard  that-  the  Bristol  institution  has 
been  chartered  as  a  college,  and  has  expectations  of  a  larger 
accession  of  students  th^  it  can  accommodate.  But  you  will 
probably  be  surprised  to  hear  that  our  brother  endeavored 


476  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  defeat  the  application  for  a  charter,  on  the  ground  that  it  was 
not  connected  with  the  Church,  and  did  not  place  the  bishop  at 
the  head  of  its  direction.  A  few  months  ago  he  deprecated  such 
a  measure.  The  yiews  of  our  good  brother  are,  to  all  appearance, 
changing. 

"  I  am  happy  to  say,  that  in  our  theological  seminary  here, 
there  is  an  increasing  spirit  of  evangelical  piety  among  the  stu- 
dents, and  much  more  liberality  of  conduct  than  formerly,  on  the 
part  of  its  directors,  towards  those  who  profess  themselves  of  the 
moderate  school. 

"  The  Lord  have  you  all  in  his  holy  keeping,  in  time  and  in 
eternity.     I  remain,  truly, 
^-    ,;.";  "  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"JAMES  MILNOR."      , 

is  The  letters  and  extracts  thus  given,  bring  us  to  a  period  in 
the  life  of  Dr.  Milnor,  at  which  he  was  called  to  undertake  an- 
other important  mission.  The  operations  of  our  Domestic  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  among  the  Indians  at  their  Green 
Bay  station,  had  become  seriously  embarrassed,  and  it  was  neces- 
sary either  to  reduce  the  mission,  or  to  place  it  on  a  more  secure 
basis.  With  a  view  to  the  decision  of  this  alternative,  it  was  at 
length  resolved,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  in  May, 
1834,  "to  appoint  a  suitable  person  to  visit  the  missionary  sta- 
tion at  Green  Bay,  as  agent,  to  examine  and  report  on  the  state 
of  its  affairs."  The  appointment  fell  upon  Dr.  Milnor,  and 
though  the  resolution  of  the  Board  contemplated  but  a  single 
agent,  yet,  apparently  at  his  suggestion,  two  other  gentlemen, 
Drs.  Hawks  and  Kemper,  were  nominated  as  his  associates. 
The  former  was  prevented  by  illness  in  his  family  from  accepting 
the  nomination ;  but  the  latter  consented  to  engage  with  Dr. 
Milnor  in  the  proposed  visit.  Accordingly,  after  much  time,  in 
the  month  of  June,  spent  in  making  the  necessary  arrangements 
and  provisions,  and  in  furnishing  the  requisite  instructions  and 
documents  for  their  guidance,  the  two  agents  left  New  York  on 
Thursday,  July  3,  in  time  to  take  the  steamer  of  the  10th  from 
Buffalo. 

The  documents  with  which  they  Vere  furnished  were  nu- 
merous and  important,  involving  the  internal  affairs  of  the  mis- 


HIS   MINISTRY.  477 

sion,  and  its  external  relations  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States;  and  the  instructions  with  which  they  were  supplied 
were  ample,  and  clothed  them  with  all  needful  powers. 

On  their  way,  they  stopped  at  Auburn  to  spend  Sunday, 
where  Dr.  Milnor  preached  both  morning  and  evening ;  and  from 
Buffalo  they  made  a  detour  for  the  purpose  of  viewing  the  falls. 
Upon  his  return  from  Niagara,  Dr.  Milnor  wrote  the  following 
brief  letter  to  his  wife : 

■     ;■  '  ^  .'♦i'."  '; 

"  Buffalo,  July  10,  1834. 

"  My  dear  Ellen — We  have  been,  as  we  proposed,  to  view 
the  greatest  natural  curiosity  of  our  country,  the  falls  of  Niag- 
ara ;  and  have  been  gratified  beyond  anticipation  at  the  sight  of 
this  stupendous  cataract. 

"  On  returning  to  the  hotel  in  this  place  last  evening,  we 
found  Mrs.  Isaac  Lawrence  and  her  party,  who  had  just  arrived. 
Five  out  of  six  of  them  were  most  anxious  to  make  the  excursion 
to  Grreen  Bay ;  but  Mrs.  Lawrence  could  not  venture  to  encoun- 
ter the  sea-sickness  on  the  lake^  which,  when  there  is  a  high 
wind,  is  as  certain  as  on  the  ocean.  They  return  by  the  way  of 
Little  York,  Montreal,  and  Quebec. 

"  There  is,  we  understand,  to  be  considerable  company  on 
board  '  the  Michigan ;'  and  it  is  not  certain  that  we  may  not  have 
with  us  a  party  of  Indians,  who  are  here  ready  for  embarkation 
to  Green  Bay.  I  hope  they  will  adopt,  as  they  wish  to  do,  a 
cheaper  conveyance. 

"  Our  nephew  James  came  on,  and  arrived  here  soon  after  we 
reached  Buffalo  on  Tuesday.  He  went  with  us  to  the  falls,  and 
was  serviceable  as  a  guide ;  being  weU  acquainted  with  all  the 
points  from  which  they  are  to  be  seen  with  the  best  effect.  He 
has  partly  made  up  his  mind  to  join  the  excursion  to  Green  Bay ; 
several  of  his  acquaintance  being  of  the  number  of  those  who 
make  it  merely  for  pleasure.  This  is  his  leisure  season  of  the 
year. 

"  We  sail  at  nine  o'clock  ;  and  Providence  favoring,  expect  in 
thirty-six  hours  to  be  at  Detroit,  where  I  hope  the  boat  will  stop 
long  enough  to  admit  of  my  dropping  you  a  line.  At  present  we 
are  busy  in  preparing  to  go  on  board ;  I  can  therefore  only  com- 


478  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

mend  you  all  anew  to  the  divine  protection,  and  with  the  best 
regards  to  every  one,  as  if  named,  subscribe  myself, 
"  Yoar  affectionate 

.  '  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

"Mrs.  Milnor," 

From  Detroit  he  wrote  again  as  follows : 

'•  Detroit,  July  12,  1834. 

"  My  dear  Ellt;n — I  wrote  you  from  Buffalo  immediately 
before  my  departure  from  that  city ;  and  have  now  the  pleasure 
to  inform  you,  that  we  have  had  a  delightful  passage  to  this  place. 
We  left  Buffalo  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Thursday  last ; 
proceeded  up  lake  Erie  to  Grand  river,  where  we  arrived  before 
daylight  yesterday,  and  remained  two  hours  to  take  in  wood. 
From  Grand  river  we  sailed  to  Cleveland,  where  we  arrived 
about  eight  o'clock,  and  remained  upwards  of  two  hours ;  during 
which  time  I  visited  my  former  parishioners,  Aaron  and  William 
Cleveland.  While  I  was  at  the  housB  of  the  latter,  their  sister 
Susan  arrived  in  the  stage  from  Gambler,  distant  less  than  one 
hundred  miles,  and  gave  me  intelligence  of  the  state  of  Bishop 
Mcllvaine's  health,  and  of  his  having  received  my  letter  appriz- 
ing him  of  my  intention,  if  possible,  to  be  with  him  at  the  time 
of  Commencement  of  the  college  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  Au- 
gust. I  also  saw  Mr.  F.  T.  Peet  and  wife,  who  had  recently  been 
at  Gambler,  and  who,  I  hope,  will  personally  tell  you  of  my  wel- 
fare. Mr.  Hempstead  of  Buffalo,  also  a  former  communicant  in 
St.  George's,  who  was  to  leave  that  place  the  same  morning  with 
ourselves,  likewise  promised  to  call  on  you. 

"  We  are  now  to  pursue  our  voyage  up  the  river  Detroit  to 
lake  St.  Clair,  then  through  the  river  St.  Clair  into  lake  Huron  ; 
a  distance  still  of  three  or  four  -hundred  miles.  Our  nephew  James 
has  accompanied  us,  and  goes  with  us  to  Green  Bay ;  returning 
in  the  same  steamer  to  Buffalo.  Our  company  has  been  very 
agreeable,  and  many  of  them  highly  intelligent.  We  are  to  have 
an  addition  of  several  of  like  character  from  this  place. 

"  I  wish  I  could  describe  to  you  the  very  interesting  lake 
scenery  which  we  have  enjoyed,  but  time  does  not  admit.  I 
have  just  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  ;  have  been  visited  this 
afternoon  by  many  of  the  first  inhabitants,  and  have  called  on 


OF   'JTJK 

HIS  MINISTRY.  |TJNIVW.SIT7 

Xs.  O A         ^^       *•<  \^' 
others.     Several  have  offered  carriages  for  an  aftenMiOTsU^3|^J£l,'l^  *  / 

with  one  of  whom  Dr.  Kemper  and  I  are  immediately 

view  the  country  near  this  flourishing  and  rapidly  improving  city. 

I  will  write  on  my  arrival  at  Green  Bay ;  and  in  the  interim, 

with  kindest  love  to  the  children,  etc.,  I  am 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  following  letter  shows  that  he  was  able  to  write  again 

before  he  reached  his  destination. 

•    "  MackinaWj  Michigan  Territory, )       '- 
July  14,  1834.  \ 

"  My  DEAR  Ellen— Jf  our  children  have  the  Curiosity  to  note 
my  progress  on  the  large  folded  map  of  the  United  States,  which 
they  will  find  in  one  of  the  drawers  in  my  study,  they  will 
probably  see  this  place  spelled  Michilimackinac.  It  is  an 
island  of  about  nine  miles  in  circumference,  at  the  termination 
of  lake  Huron,  and  helping  to  narrow  the  strait  which  connects 
that  with  lake  Michigan.  There  is  here  a  fort,  garrisoned  by 
troops  of  the  United  States,  and  situated  on  a  beautiful  eminence ; 
while,  from  a  height  still  higher,  there  is  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive and  delightful  prospects  I  have  ever  seen. 

"  We  have  been  most  singularly  favored  in  the  weather  ;  the 
water  being  smooth,  with  no  rain,  and  the  temperature  of  the 
air  very  pleasant.  In  our  company  also  we  have  been  much 
gratified.  If  all  are  not  religious,  they  have  manifested  a  respect 
for  religion,  and  for  us  as  its  public  functionaries.  I  have  not 
witnessed,  in  a  company  of  sixty,  one  act  of  intemperance,  and 
have  heard  scarcely  a  profane  expression.  Some  of  our  passen- 
gers left  us  at  Detroit ;  but  General  Brady,  commander  of  these 
western  forts ;  General  Ashley  and  lady ;  Mrs.  Morris,  senior  and 
junior,  of  New  York  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney,  and  a  number  of 
other  pleasant  passengers  go  on  in  'the  Michigan'  to  Green  Bay; 
for  which  place  we  start  to-morrow.  We  arrived  early  enough 
this  afternoon  to  allow  us  to  visit  the  fort,  on  invitation  and  in 
company  with  General  Brady,  who  reviews  the  troops  to-morrow 
morning,  and  has  invited  us  to  witness  the  review. 

"  We  have  also  visited  the  mission-house  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  at  this  post,  and 


480  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

have  been  kindly  received.  "We  obtained  much  information  from 
Mr.  Ferry,  the  missionary,  with  whom  Pr.  Kemper  and  I  are  to 
breakfast  to-morrow  morning  at  half  past  six."  [Somewhat 
earlier  than  the  London  breakfasts,] 

"  We  have  now  no  other  stopping-place  until  we  reach  our 
destination.  If  therefore  Providence  allow  us  to  arrive  in  safety, 
my  next  letter  must  be  dated  from  Green  Bay.  I  feel  as  if  I 
could  not  be  sufficiently  grateful  to  my  heavenly  Father  for  con- 
tinued health,  and  the  very  favorable  circumstances  under  which 
he  has  brought  us  thus  far  on  our  journey  into  the  far  West. 
Though  considerably  over  a  thousand  miles  from  you,  yet  you 
are  all  in  my  thoughts,  hour  by  hour ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  of 
my  enjoying,  reciprocally,  a  place  in  yours.  I  am  now  writing 
in  the  cabin  of  this  fine  boat,  at  a  late  hour,  fearing  I  might  not 
have  time  for  writing  before  our  departure  to-morrow.  I  am  not 
a  little  anxious  about  St.  George's,  but  trust  every  thing  will  go 
smoothly  until  my  return.  My  most  affectionate  love  to  sister 
Anna,  and  to  our  dear  children  ;  with  remembrances  to  our  do- 
mestics, and  to  all  friends  as  if  named. 

"  Very  affectionately  and  truly,  your  ■^' 

"JAMES  MILNOR."  ' 

i '  The  two  agents  reached  Green  Bay  according  to  their  expec- 
tations, and  Dr.  Milnor  at  once  forwarded  to  his  wife  the  prom- 
ised information. 

"  Mission  House,  Green  Bay,  Michigan,  )      ■  ' 
July  17,  1834.  .         )      '' 

"  My  dear  Ellen — I  have  great  pleasure  in  now  writing  to 
you  from  the  place  of  our  destination,  which  Dr.  Kemper  and  I 
reached  last  evening  in  perfect  health.  Considering  that  we 
spent  our  first  Sabbath  at  Auburn,  and  a  whole  day  in  visiting 
the  falls  ;  and  that  we  were  detained  a  day  at  Detroit,  while  the 
steamer  was  taking  in  wood,  and  another  at  Mackinaw  for  the 
same  purpose,  besides  stoppages  of  a  few  hours  each  at  two 
other  places,  it  is  considered  by  our  friends  here  that  we  have 
made  an  uncommonly  rapid  journey  ;  and  when  we  compare  it 
with  the  month  or  six  weeks,  or  even  two  months,  during  which 
some,  in  former  times,  have  been  employed  in  its  accomplish- 
ment, we  have  great  cause  of  thankfulness  to  God,  both  for  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  481 

expedition  and  the  pleasure  with  which  we  have  been  permitted 
to  complete  thus  far  our  arduous  undertaking.  Of  our  return 
we  cannot  anticipate  so  favorably.  We  are  likely  to  be  disap- 
pointed in  obtaining  a  passage  back  through  the  lakes  by  steam- 
ers, none  being  expected  here  until  long  after  the  time  when 
we  shall  have  fulfilled  the  purpose  of  our  visit,  and  be  desirous 
of  returning.  Hopes  are  held  out  that  our  passage  in  a  good 
schooner  may  be  obtained  ;  but  it  is  possible  that  even  in  this  we 
may  be  disappointed.  Our  steamer,  'the  Michigan,'  leaves  this 
afternoon  ;  and  when  she  is  gone,  the  port  of  Navarino  will  not 
contain  a  single  vessel  larger  than  a  barge  or  a  canoe. 

'^  We  were  pleased  to  find  the  missionary  family  and  their 
interesting  pupils  all  in  good  health,  and  the  mission-house  spa- 
cious and  convenient,  and  very  pleasantly  located  on  the  Fox 
river.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Cadle,  though  no  longer  connected  with  the 
mission,  having  removed  to  the  settlement  of  the  Oneida  Indians 
about  nine  miles  off,  was  yet  fortunately  here,  and  will  remain 
for  the  purpose  of  assisting  us  in  our  inquiries,  which  will  be 
industriously  prosecuted,  so  that  we  may  be  ready  for  the  first 
opportunity  of  turning  our  faces  eastward. 

"  We  are  in  expectation  of  a  visit  to  the  mission-house  this 
morning,  from  a  number  of  our  fellow-passengers,  who  are  on 
board  the  steamer  at  Navarino,  three  miles  off,  and  who  will  re- 
turn with  her  this  afternoon.  Judge  Irving,  of  this  place,  is  also 
going  in  her,  intending  to  proceed  to  New  York.  I  have  given 
him  a  letter  of  introduction,  and  would  be  glad  if  Henry  would 
pay  him  attention. 

"  I  have  many  things  to  say;  but  my  time  is  so  occupied  this 
morning,  that  I  can  only  conclude  with  the  customary  saluta- 
tions to  all  the  family,  and  assure  you  that  I  remain,  unalterably,' 

"  Your  faithful  husband, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Two  other  letters  furnish  all  that  is  known  of  his  return 
journey.     The  first  is  dated,  .         > 

"  Wheeling,  Va.,  Saturday,  Aug.  16,  1834. 
"My  dear  Ellen — You  will  perceive,  by  the  place  front 
which  I  date,  that  I  am  now  hastening  homewards  as  fast  as 

Hem.  Mflnor.  3 1 


482  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

conveyances  and  other  circumstances  will  admit.  At  9  o'clock, 
Wednesday  morning,  I  took  leave  of  Bishop  Mcllvaine  and  other 
friends  at  Gambler,  and  went  down  in  the  daily  stage  to  Mount 
Vernon ;  remaining  there  until  afternoon,  when  I  took  the  stage 
to  Newark,  and  arrived  at  ten  o'clock  at  night. 

"  There  I  was  compelled  to  wait  for  a  stage,  until  the  after- 
noon of  the  following  day,  to  take  me  over  to  Jacksonville,  on  the 
great  '  Cumberland  road,'  where  I  was  to  meet  the  western  stage 
in  the  evening  of  that  day.  On  our  arrival,  I  was  sadly  discour- 
aged to  learn  from  the  inn-keeper,  that  the  coach  almost  always 
came  full ;  and  that  we — for  there  were  six  persons  desirous,  like 
myself,  of  going  eastward— might  have  to  wait  a  day  or  two, 
before  we  could  all  be  accommodated  with  seats.  He  proved, 
however,  to  be  a  false  prophet ;  for  the  coach  came  along  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  with  only  two  passengers.  Of  course, 
there  was  room  enough  and  to  spare.  I  travelled  all  Thursday 
night,  reaching  Zanesville  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and 
while  prevented  from  getting  any  rest  by  the  intimation  that  the 
coach  would  soon  start,  we  were  detained  by  the  delay  of  the 
post-master  in  examining  and  distributing  the  mails  until  day- 
light. The  morning  air  was  cool  and  refreshing ;  and  through- 
out the  day,  the  weather  was  pleasant,  and  the  roads,  with  the 
exception  of  those  in  England,  the  best  that  I  ever  travelled. 
We  arrived  at  this  place  last  evening  a  little  after  dark.  I  would 
have  gone  on  immediately  in  the  mail ;  but  having  lost  one  night's 
rest,  and  finding  it  would  not  leave  me  at  a  convenient  place  to 
stop  over  Sunday,  I  concluded  to  sleep  here,  and  this  morning,  at 
eight  o'clock,  to  proceed  in  'the  Reliance  line'  to  Uniontown, 
3Pa.,  where  I  shall  remain  till  Monday  morning.  I  shall  then 
hasten  by  the  way  of  Baltimore  to  Philadelphia,  where  I  shall 
be  detained  a  day  or  two  by  my  necessary  conferences  with  the 
executive  committee  of  our  Missionary  Society,  and  then,  with  ' 
none  but  unavoidable  delay,  be  at  home,  I  hope,  before  the  close 
of  the  week. 

"  I  enjoy  uninterrupted  health,  thanks  to  the  Giver  of  every 
good  and  perfect  gift ;  but  my  anxiety  to  be  at  home  increases  as 
I  advance  towards  it.  It  was  a  great  disappointment  to  me  to 
receive  no  letters  at  Kenyon  college ;  I  expected  to  find  several 


HIS  MINISTRY.  '  483 

there,  awaiting  my  arrival.  I  suppose  there  was  some  misun- 
derstanding of  my  directions  on  this  point.  Please  to  give  my 
love  to  all  as  usual,  and  believe  me, 

"  Your  affectionate 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
To   William  H.  Milnor,  M.D. 

"  Brownville,  Pa.,  Aug.  18,  1834. 

"  My  dear  Son — Former  letters  will  have  advised  you  of  my 
past  progress  homeward,  up  to  my  arrival  at  Wheeling.  Over  the 
worst  road  I  ever  met  with,  I  arrived  at  this  place  on  Saturday, 
at  midnight.  I  stopped  here  to  spend  the  Sabbath,  expecting  to 
go  on  in  the  stage  that  came  through  this  town  last  evening, 
having  paid  my  fare  through  from  Wheeling  to  Fredericktown, 
Md.,  with  the  right  to  stop  on  the  road  over  Sunday,  and  then 
resume  my  place.  This  privilege,  however,  could  only  be  granted 
conditionally  ;  and  unfortunately  the  coach  came  on  entirely  full. 
I  am  now  compelled  to  wait  until  one  arrives  from  Wheeling  with 
a  vacant  seat.  I  hope  this  will  be  in  the  course  of  to-day  ;  but 
it  is  entirely  possible  that  I  may  be  detained  several  days  for 
want  of  room.  I  thought  it  best,  therefore,  just  to  drop  you  a 
hasty  line  to  account  for  my  detention,  if  it  should  occur. 

"  I  preached  here  twice  yesterday ;  and  have  met  with  a 
female  cousin,  Hannah  Rhoads,  aged  eighty-one  years,  the  old- 
est inhabitant  of  this  place,  and  universally  respected.  Though 
a  Friend,  yet  she  came  to  church,  and  went  to  the  same  place 
to  be  with  me  in  the  evening.  You  can  hardly  imagine  her  joy 
at  seeing  one  of  her  family.     Her  mother  and  mine  were  sisters. 

"  With  love  to  all, 

"Affectionately  yours,  , 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Leaving  him  now,  without  any  further  trace  of  incidents 
by  the  way,  till  he  reached  New  York,  we  must  go  back  to 
Green  Bay,  and  gather  up  some  account  of  the  results  of  the 
agency. 

In  their  report  to  the  Executive  Committee,  which  is  a  docu- 
ment of  considerable  length  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Milnor,  the 
agents  state,  that  their  "  residence  at  the  mission-house  was 
continued  from  the  evening  of  their  arrival  until  the  4th  of  Au- 


484  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

gust,"  full  eighteen  days.  Of  these,  "ten  days  of  assiduous 
application  were  devoted  to  their  inquiries  and  observations. 
Their  subsequent  detention,  for  want  of  any  means  of  return, 
supplied  them  with  a  further  opportunity  of  maturing  their 
reflections,  and  preparing  their  statement  for  the  perusal  of  the 
committee."  This  statement,  drawn  up  in  a  minute  and  busi- 
ness-like manner,  embraced  the  following  general  heads:  "Mis- 
sion buildings  and  farm  ;  mission  family ;  supplies ;  mission 
schools ;  reduction  of  schools  ;  past  benefits  of  the  mission ;  Onei- 
das ;  the  Menominees ;  ministerial  labors  of  the  agents ;  con- 
clusion." For  the  particulars  of  this  report,  reference  may  be 
had  to  the  October  and  November  numbers  of  "  the  Missionary 
Record,"  for  the  year  1834.  The  account  of  their  visit  to  the 
Oneidas  is  peculiarly  interesting ;  and  their  labors  as  preachers 
during  their  absence,  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  The  "con- 
clusion "  of  their  report,  and  the  "  instructions"  given  immediately 
afterwards  to  the  new  superintendent  by  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee, will  sufficiently  indicate  the  results  of  their  mission.  The 
agents  say, 

"  We  cannot  conclude  without  repeating  our  conviction,  that 
under  the  auspices  of  an  enlightened,  economical,  and  pious  ad- 
ministration, this  mission  may  be  continued  with  great  literary 
and  religious  benefit  to  its  immediate  beneficiaries ;  with  a  happy 
influence  upon  society  at  Green  Bay,  and  with  credit  and  advan- 
tage to  the  Church. 

"  "With  the  proposed  reasonable  limitation  of  its  numbers,  and 
suitable  guards  against  improvident  expenditure,  we  think  that 
there  are  abundant  motives  for  persevering  in  this  work  of  Chris- 
tian beneficence ;  and  that  no  thought  should  be  entertained  of 
its  present  abandonment. 

"  On  the  contrary,  with  the  rising  missionary  spirit  of  our 
church,  we  would  fain  anticipate  a  new  impulse  in  favor  of  its 
maintenance  and  improvement.  And  if,  at  some  future  period, 
in  the  changing  circumstances  of  our  Indian  population,  its  re- 
linquishment should  be  judged  expedient,  we  have  no  doubt  the 
reasons  for  such  a  measure  would  then  commend  themselves  to 
all ;  while  its  premature  adoption  would  find  a  sufficient  sanction, 
neither  in  the  past  history,  nor  in  the  present  situation,  nor  yet 


HIS  MINISTRY.  485 

in  the  future  prospects  of  the  mission.  A  certain  good,  of  no 
inconsiderable  extent,  would  be  surrendered,  before  substitutes 
of  unquestioned  value  were  prepared  to  take  its  place, .  and  a 
character  of  uncalled-for  fickleness  be  stamped  upon  our  oper- 
ations. 

"  The  weight  of  thes^  considerations  is  increased  by  the  high 
estimation  in  which  our  mission  is  held  by  the  respectable  and 
good  in  the  West.  It  has  the  regard,  we  believe,  of  the  whole 
Protestant  population  there,  who  are  acquainted  with  its  char- 
acter and  doings,  and  whose  moral  dispositions  qualify  them  to 
estimate  aright  its  value. 

"  We  have  done,  and  will  still  seek  to  do  the  Indians  good. 
Our  mission  will  continue  to  be  conducted  with  '  the  meekness 
of  wisdom,'  and  so  long  as  the  less  prejudiced  shall  continue 
their  children  under  its  care,  they  will  be  prepared  by  wholesome 
instruction  to  fulfil  with  propriety  their  duties  to  God  and  man ; 
and  some  of  them,  we  hope,  be  invested,  through  faith  in  the 
Redeemer  of  mankind,  with  the  most  elevated  expectations  of 
his  true  disciples. 

"JAMES  MILNOR, 
"JACKSON  KEMPER." 

•  The  instructions  given  by  the  Executive  Committee  to  the 
new  superintendent,  so  far  as  they  grew  out  of  the  report  of  the 
agents,  were  the  following : 

"1.  To  reduce  the  number  of  boarding  pupils  to  fifty,  and  to 
give  preference  to  full-blood  Indian  children,  especially  Menomi- 
nees. 

"2.  To  make  arrangements  for  having  the  pupils  instructed 
in  the  different  trades  suggested  in  the  report  of  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Milnor  and  Kemper. 

"  3.  Whenever  practicable,  to  have  the  candidates  for  admis- 
sion into  the  school  bound  for  as  long  a  term  as  the  law  will 
allow  ;  and  whenever  it  is  unavoidably  lessened,  to  abridge  it  as 
little  as  possible. 

"4.  To  receive  no  children  into  the  establishment  over  twelve, 
nor  under  five  years  of  age. 

"5.  To  take  such  measures  as  are  calculated  to  give  a  decid- 
edly religious  character  to  the  duties  of  the  schools,  by  the  for- 


486  .  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

mation  of  Bible  and  catechetical  classes,  and  by  having,  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  the  usual  exercises  of  Sunday-schools. 

"  6.  To  have  cleared  and  prepared  annually,  for  tillage  or 
pasture,  a  portion  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  society ;  to  in- 
crease, from  time  to  time,  the  number  of  milch-cows,  and  to  pur- 
chase a  pair  of  horses,  a  wagon,  and  a  sled  for  the  use  of  the 
farm,  and  a  low-priced  vehicle  for  the  accommodation  of  the  mis- 
sion family." 

The  first  superintendent  of  our  mission  at  Green  Bay,  was 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cadle,  than  whom,  it  is  believed,  a  more  modest, 
humble,  pure-minded  man,  of  more  delicate  sensibilities,  or  of 
more  unobtrusive  merit,  was  seldom,  if  ever,  known.  A  combi- 
nation of  circumstances,  anterior  to  the  visit  of  the  agents,  led 
him  to  resign  his  office,  and  the  Executive  Committee  to  appoint, 
as  his  successor,  the  new  superintendent  of  whom  we  have 
spoken.  As  the  circumstances  which  led  to  these  changes,  in- 
duced also  the  agency  of  Dr.  Milnor  and  his  associate,  it  is  but 
justice  to  Mr.  Cadle  to  annex  the  following  action  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  and  of  the  Board. 

"  Soon  after  the  return  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Milnor  and  Kemper 
from  Green  Bay,  the  committee  adopted  the  following  minute  : 

'^^ Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  approve  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cadle  and  his  assistants,  in  exercising 
necessary  discipline  upon  several  offending  scholars,  and  deeply 
regret  the  difficulty  to  which  this  discharge  of  duty  subjected 
them. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  entertain  a  grate- 
ful sense  of  the  ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cadle  has  discharged  the  important  trust  committed  to  him,  and 
a,ssure  him  that  he  has  had  their  cordial  sympathy  in  the  severe 
mental  sufferings  which  have  lately  been  occasioned  him  by  the 
unworthy  treatment  of  certain  individuals  at  Green  Bay." 

"  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board,  held ,  it  being 

stated,  that  in  consequence  of  the  affair  referred  to  in  the  former 
of  the  above  resolutions,  reports  injurious  to  the  character  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cadle  had  been  industriously  and  widely  circulated ; 
and  it  being  evident  to  the  Directors,  from  oral  and  documentary 
evidence  submitted  to  them,  which  they  carefully  examined,  that 


,     HIS  MINISTRY.  487 

such  reports  were  entirely  unfounded — ^the  following  resolution, 
as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  minutes,  was  unanimously 
adopted : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Board,  no  farther  ac- 
tion in  the  premises  is  necessary  on  their  part,  except  to  declare, 
which  they  hereby  do,  their  entire  confidence  in  the  purity  of 
character  and  integrity  of  conduct  exhibited  by  him  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  his  duties,  and  their  satisfaction  with  the  resolu- 
tions so  promptly  passed  by  the  Executive  Committee,  after  re- 
ceiving the  report  of  their  agents  to  Green  Bay,  approbatory  of 
the  course  of  Mr.  Cadle." 

The  results,  then,  of  the  agency  to  Green  Bay,  may  be  thus 
summed :  the  removal,  from  one  of  the  sweetest  of  characters, 
of  every  shadow  which  had  been  cast  upon  it ;  the  reduction  of 
the  mission  to  the  measure  of  the  society's  means  for  its  support ; 
and  the  maturing  of  a  judicious  plan  for  its  future  more  effective 
management.  In  reaching  these  results,  hoAvever,  extensive 
investigations  were  necessary,  involving  intercourse  with  agents 
and  officers  of  the  United  States  government ;  interviews,  through 
interpreters,  with  Indian  tribes ;  and  careful  examinations  of  the 
domestic  economy  of  the  mission  family,  of  the  schools,  and  of 
their  books  and  system  of  instruction  : ,  work  for  which  few  men 
in  our  church  could  be  found  more  happily  qualified  than  Dr. 
Milnor  and  his  associate. 

After  their  return  and  report,  and  under  the  new  and  some- 
what reduced  system  of  operations  which  they  recommended, 
confidence  in  the  mission  revived,  and  its  operations  were  suc- 
cessfully maintained,  until  changes  in  the  Indian  population  of 
its  neighborhood  rendered  its  final  abandonment  a  measure  of  no 
longer  doubtful  expediency. 

Upon  their  return,  the  agents  proceeded  together,  by  the 
lakes,  until  they  reached  Huron,  upon  lake  Erie,  in  Ohio.  At 
this  point  they  separated.  Dr.  Kemper  continuing  by  the  lake  to 
Buffalo,  and  thence  to  New  York  ;  while  Dr.  Milnor  passed  down 
through  Ohio,  to  Kenyon  college  at  Gambler,  and  thence  home 
by  the  route  which  his  letters  have  already  indicated,  and  by  the 
further  way  of  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia. 


48^  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 


SECTION  II. 

We  return  now  to  letters  and  extracts  from  Dr.  Milnor's  cor- 
respondence. The  first  in  date,  from  which  the  following  are 
extracts,  was  to  the  present  writer,  then  settled  in  Boston. 

.  -  '(,,-  :     '  "  New  York,  Feb.  27,  1835. 

"  Rev.  and  tiExn  Brother — Before  the  receipt  of  your  last,  I 
had  heard  of  your  establishment  of  a  new  Episcopal  paper,  and 
read  with  pleasure  its  first  number.  I  sincerely  hope  it  may 
meet  with  an  abundant  measure  of  patronage,  though,  from  the 
number  of  similar  publications  already  extant  in  the  middle, 
western,  and  southern  states,  you  will  have  to  look  for  it  princi- 
pally '  down  east.' 

"  With  regard  to  an  editor,  the  only  person  whose  qualifica- 
tions I  have  thought  well  adapted  to  that  office,  is  the  Rev. 

.     Dr.  Eastburn  requests  me  to  say,  that  he  unites  cordially 

in  recommending  him  to  your  consideration. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  the  good  effects  of  your  wife's  voyage 
to  England  on  her  health,  but  regret  to  hear  of  little  Archibald's 
repeated  illnesses.  But  thus  it  is.  Few  of  our  causes  of  hap- 
piness are  unalloyed  with  counteracting  ills,  fitted  to  remind  us 
that  unmixed  enjoyment  is  to  be  expected  only  in  a  better  state 
of  being.  Alas,  I  am  astonished  at  my  own  insensibility  to  the 
influence  of  a  consideration  so  well  calculated  to  detach  us  from 
a  reliance  on  earthly  comforts,  and  to  elevate  our  views  habitually 
to  heaven, 

"  Your  good  bishop  has  been  abundant  in  his  supply  of  our  lack 
of  forms  of  prayer.  They  are  a  transcript  of  his  own  pure  and 
devotional  frame  of  mind,  and  I  hope  will  be  useful  in  teaching 
some  how  to  pray.  But  the  semi-offioial  character  under  which 
they  are  set  forth,  will,  I  fear,  lead  to  some  strictures  on  the 
publication.  I  speak,  however,  only  from  my  knowledge  of  the 
jealousy  with  which  any  thing  from  such  a  quarter  is  lilcdiy  to  be ' 
viewed. 
J  "  I  want  to  hear  oftener  from  you,  and  more  about  yourself 


HIS  MINISTRY.  489 

and  your  parish,  and  every  thing  that  concerns  one  so  warmly 
seated  in  my  affections  as  yourself ;  being  still 

"Your  sincerely  attached  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"  The  Rev.  John  S.  Stoxe." 

"P.  S.  Since  writing  this  letter,  I  have  received  a  charming 
communication  from  our  dear  brother  Mcllvaine,  under  date  of 
the  19th  of  January.  He  has  been  most  cordially  received,  and 
though  reserved  in  speaking  of  what  he  has  done  for  the  college, 
yet  he  gives  reason  to  believe  his  visit  will  be  propitious  to  its 
interests.  He  is  in  excellent  health,  and  gives  me  an  account  of 
a  clerical  meeting  in  the  very  apartment  at  Islington,  where  we 
attended  one  of  a  similar  and  very  interesting  character  in  1830. 
At  the  late  meeting  he  was  called  upon  to  give  a  full  account  of 
the  Church,  etc.,  in  America ;  in  doing  which  he  occupied  two 
hours.  An  account  of  it  will  appear  in  the  Gambler  Observer, 
which  you  must  not  fail  to  republish.  He  sends  me  the  names 
of  about  a  dozen  of  the  best  men  in  England,  who  requested  him 
to  send  me  their  kind  remembrances. 

"  You  see  how  generously  I  requite  your  brief  communica- 
tion, or  rather,  how  generously  I  should  requite  it  were  mine  as 
valuable  as  it  is  long.  «j.  m." 

To  Bishop  Mcllvaine. 
'  "New  York,  Feb.  28,  1835. 

"My  dear  Bishop — I  was  sitting  yesterday  in  my  study, 
whercj  on  account  of  toothache  and  a  swelled  face,  I  have  spent; 
the  last  three  or  four  days,  when  I  was  pleasantly  interrupted  in 
my  employment  by  the  receipt  of  your  kind  and  welcome  letter 
of  the  19th  ult. 

"  I  had,  too,  just  been  repining  a  little  at  your  silence,  more 
especially  on  account  of  my  inability  to  answer  the  daily  inquiries 
of  our  mutual  friends.  To  hear  that  you  were  well  and  in  good 
spirits,  and  obstructed  by  no  difficulties,  and  enjoying  the  inter- 
course of  beloved  Christian  brethren,  and  though  you  speak  cau- 
tiously, yet  likely,  as  I  infer,  to  accomplish  something  for  Kenyon 
and  Ohio,  were  such  pleasing  circumstances,  that  the  account,  if 
it  did  not  remove  my  bodily  pain,  at  least  helped  me  to  bear  it; 


490  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILIfOR. 

and  gave  me  the  privilege  of  adding  a  fresh  note  of  thanksgiving 
to  my  evening  devotions.  Ij  h-i^.v  "- <• 

"It  so  occurred  also,  that  a  few  minutes  after  the  receipt  of 
your  letter,  a  young  friend,  a  communicant  of  my  church,  called 
on  me  to  say  that  he  designed  sailihg  immediately  for  London, 
in  the  packet  of  the  1st  proximo,  so  that  I  am  assured  of  the  safe 
delivery  of  my  answer. 

"You  will  have  a  famous  coterie  of  American  clergy  in  Lon- 
don next  spring — Dr.  McAuley,  Dr.  Codman,  Dr.  Spring,  Mr, 
Baird,  Mr.  Breckenridge,  etc.  You  will  have  to  take  charge  of 
them,  and  introduce  them  to  our  friends.  Though  '  they  do  not 
follow  with  us,'  yet  we  know  them  to  be  good  men  and  true, 
whose  talents  as  well  as  piety  will  do  no  discredit  to  our  country. 
I  mentioned  to  the  two  first-named  gentlemen  that  I  would  en- 
deavor to  forward  them  some  letters  of  introduction.  But  I  have 
been  so  free  in  my  trespasses  on  the  few  whom  I  can  address  in 
this  way,  and  I  am  persuaded  they  will  have  so  little  need  of 
letters  at  such  a  time  of  universal  greeting  and  hospitality  as 
that  in  which  they  visit  London,  that  I  must  ask  of  you  the  favor 
of  making  an  apology  for  me  to  our  esteemed  brethren  for  my 
seeming  neglect. 

"Drs.  McAuley  and  Spring  have  credentials  as  delegates  from 
the  American  Bible  and  Tract  Societies,  with  accompanying  let- 
ters of  introduction  from  myself,  and  are  both  representatives 
from  several  other  bodies. 

"I  was  delighted  with  the  account  of  the  Islington  meeting. 
It  brought  affecting  reminiscences  to  my  mind,  and  I  feel  grate- 
ful for  the  kind  inquiries  about  me  by  brethren,  whom,  though  I 
shall  probably  never  see  them  again  in  the  flesh,  yet  I  can  never 
forget.  Give  them,  as  if  individually  named,  my  kindest  love, 
and  tell  them,  though  I  cannot  go  to  them,  yet  few  things  would 
delight  me  more  than  to  find  some  of  them  coming  to  us,  to  re- 
ciprocate the  over-proportion  of  visits  which  they  are  continually 
receiving,  from  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  I  hope,  at  all  events, 
they  will  make  you  the  bearer  of  letters  to  one  who  so  highly 
values  the  communications  of  his  transatlantic  brethren.  \ 

"  To  Mr.  E  wbank  and  the  other  lay  gentlemen  named  by  you, 
and  to  Mr.  Gilliat,  if  you  meet  with  him,  present  my  kind  remem- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  491 

brances.  To  the  family  of  the  former,  particularly  to  Mrs.  Ew- 
bank,  I  owe  much  for  their  kind  attentions,  and  ought  long  since 
to  have  made  my  acknowledgments  by  letter. 

"  I  am  glad  you  will  be  able  to  counteract  the  articles  of  the 
correspondent  of  the  New  York  Observer,  in  regard  to  what  he 
represents  as  the  almost  execrable  character  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  Ireland.  We  have  to-day  in  the  Churchman,  testi- 
monies of  a  different  kind,  from  two  eminent  English  dissenters; 
and  I  presume  the  fact  to  be  indisputable,  that  while  there  are 
abuses  which  need  correction,  and  personal  misconduct  in  some 
clergymen  which  is  to  be  deplored,  for  several  years  past  the 
character  of  the  Church  has  been  greatly  improving,  both  in  Eng- 
land and  in  Ireland.  I  am  sorry  that  the  recent  unparalleled 
severity  of  an  archdeacon  of  the  latter  country,  in  the  collection 
of  his  tithes,  should  oblige  us  to  admit  of  still  remaining  sorrow- 
ful exceptions. 

"  "We  are  abounding  in  Episcopal  periodicals.  Since  you 
started  for  Liverpool,  I  believe.  Bishop  Doane's  Missionary,  and 
Mr.  Lee's  Southern  Churchman,  and  Dr.  Cooke's  Church  Advo- 
cate, and  the  Christian  Witness,  have  taken  the  field;  the  last 
but  one  in  quite  a  warlike  attitude,  armed  cap-a-pie  at  the  out- 
set. Surely,  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  that  there  is  enough  of 
public  appetite  for  these  things-  to  require  such  means  of  gratifi- 
cation. I  pray  God  a  spirit  of  peace,  a  love  of  souls,  an  anxious 
desire  to  spread  the  saving  truths  of  the  Gospel,  may  predominate 
over  an  excessive  zeal  on  minor  points.  On  the  whole,  I  think 
we  may  anticipate  important  aid  to  the  cause  of  vital  godliness 
from  the  increase  of  these  valuable  instruments. 

"Bishop  Smith  is  wisely  calculating  on  the  slow  movements 
in  works  of  beneficence,  too  common  in  some  of  our  eastern 
churches;  and  allows  them  ample  time  to  consider  what  they 
will  do  for  his  seminary.  After  holding  several  meetings  here, 
and  paying  many  visits,  he  is  doing  the  same  in  Philadelphia ; 
and,  in  the  result,  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  draw  successfully  upon 
many  who  never  before  gave  a  dollar  for  the  West.  In  a  plain, 
matter-of-fact  statement,  and  a  short  practical  improvement,  he 
succeeds  admirably. 

"  You  see  I  have  entirely  avoided  the  necessity  of  any  apolo- 


492  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

gy  for  brevity,  and  have  induced  that  of  asking  your  forgiveness 
for  so  long  and  rambling  a  letter.  But  you  know  how  I  love  to 
have  long  chats  with  you  when  together,  and  how  natural  it  is 
to  make  the  written  page  correspond  with  our  usual  habits.  I 
shall,  no  doubt,  have  as  much  to  bore  you  with  on  your  return, 
as  if  I  had  not  written  a  word. 

"  I  have  one  favor  to  ask  of  you.  It  is,  to  bring  me  the  volumes 
of  the  Christian  Observer  for  1832,  3,  and  4,  which  the  Carvills, 
who  had  before  imported  the  work  for  me,  have  not  supplied.  I 
hope  you  have  read  the  most  interesting  recently  published  biog- 
raphy— ^that  of  Hannah  More,  our  visit  to  whom  is  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  of  my  English  recollections.  If  you  go  to  Bristol, 
do  not  fail  to  call  on  our  attentive  friend  Mr.  Prust.  All  the 
members  of  our  family,  and  countless  friends,  send  you  their 
best  regards. 

"  Affectionately  and  truly  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

In  the  month  of  June,  1835,  Dr  Milnor  attended  the  annual 
convention  of  our  church  in  Massachusetts,  which  met  at  Pitts- 
field.  His  object  in  attending  was,  informally,  to  represent  the 
Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  at  a  missionary  meet- 
ing for  which  arrangements  had  been  made  in  connection  with 
the  occasion.     With  this  reference,  the  following  letter  explains 

itself. 

^  "TotheRev.John   S.   Stone. 

"New  York,  June  24,  1835. 

"  My  dear  Brother — On  the  importunate  request  of  several 
of  the  brethren  at  Pittsfield,  I  agreed  to  endeavor,  by  the  help  of 
memory  and  the  little  memorandum  from  which  I  spoke  at  the 
missionary  meeting,  to  recall  and  note  for  publication  in  'the 
Witness'  the  substance  of  what  I  delivered. 

"  I  reached  home  on  Monday  evening,  and  at  eight  o'clock, 
yesterday  morning,  was  obliged  to  attend  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  the  business  of 
which  will  occupy  us  until  the  Commencement  on  Friday  next. 
I  mention  this  as  my  apology  for  sending  you  such  a  scrawl,  and 
for  asking  of  you  the  favor  of  examining  and  correcting  whatever 
you  may  see  to  be  amiss,  before  you  send  it  to  the  printer.     I 


HIS  MINISTRY.  493 

leave  it  to  yourself  to  call  it  a  speech,  or  an  address,  or  the  sub- 
stance of  either,  or  what  you  please,  and  to  introduce  it  in  such 
a  way  as  you  may  think  proper.  I  hope  you  have  reduced  your 
speech  to  writing,  and  will  also  publish  it. 

"  I  am  suddenly  called  to  a  funeral,  and  remain,  in  haste, 
"  Yours,  most  ajffectionately, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  following  exhibits  the  interest  which,  until  it  became 
inextricably  involved  by  the  management  of  others.  Dr.  Milnor 
continued  to  feel  in  the  concerns  of  Bristol  college. 

To  the  Rev.   J.   P.   K.   Henshaw,   D.D. 

"  New  York,  Aug.  5,  1835. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — You  have,  no  doubt,  before  this, 
received  official  information  of  your  appointment  as  an  agent  for 
Bristol  college.  The  president  was  led  to  believe  you  might  be 
prevailed  on  to  undertake  a  six  months'  engagement  in  this  inter- 
esting service,  and  that  it  would  be  practicable  for  you  to  make 
arrangements  with  your  congregation  for  an  entire  devotion  of 
your  attention  to  it  for  that  period.  I  sincerely  hope  this  may 
be  the  case,  as  the  circumstances  of  the  college  are  now  pecu- 
liarly trying ;  the  press  for  admission  being  very  great,  and  our 
accommodations  quite  inadequate  even  to  the  comfortable  living 
of  the  present  students,  and  the  board  of  trustees  entirely  with- 
out the  means  of  their  extension;  while  the  debt  incurred  in 
building  the  new  hall,  is,  to  a  considerable  extent,  unpaid.  If 
the  institution  should  continue  long  in  its  present  condition,  its 
friends  who  are  disappointed  in  obtaining  admission  for  their 
children,  will  be  discouraged,  and  much  patronage  be  lost.  It 
would  be  a  subject  of  great  regret,  if  an  enterprise  so  popular 
should  either  fail  or  falter  in  its  course,  for  want  of  those  timely 
exertions  which  might  place  it  on  a  footing  of  permanency  and 
respectability  of  the  highest  order.  It  wants  a  man  just  like 
yourself,  to  go  forth  as  its  advocate,  and  gather  for  it  present 
means,  and  the  assurance  of  continued  aid,  until  it  is  placed  on 
the  basis  of  independence  enjoyed  by  other  literary  institutions  of 
our  country, 

"Allow  me,  as  a  friend  of  the  college,  to  hope  you  will  accept 


494  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

the  appointment ;  and,  as  your  personal  friend,  to  wish  you  the 
honor  of  being,  under  Providence,  the  instrument  of  insuring  the 
stability  and  success  of  such  a  promising  means  of  usefulness  to 
the  church,  and  to  the  country. 

"Yours,  very  faithfully  and  truly, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  next  shows  where  he  was,  and  intimates  in  what  he  was 
employed  during  the  remainder  of  the  month,  and  for  a  part  of 
September. 

To  Mrs.  Milnor. 
■    '  '■  ^  " Philadklphia,  Tuesday,  Sept.  1,  1835. 

"  My  dear  Ellen — I  was  much  disappointed  on  Saturday, 
by  Mr.  Cairns'  omission  to  call,  as  he  promised  he  would  on  his 
way  to  the  steamer,  for  a  letter  which  I  had  written  to  explain 
to  you  the  necessity  under  which  I  was  unexpectedly  laid,  of 
remaining  here  until  the  close  of  the  Convention.  Had  I  not 
expected  to  see  Mr.  Cairns,  I  should  have  gone  down  to  Dr. 
Klapp's  to  give  Henry  the  letter,  and  explain  to  him  personally 
the  reason  of  my  not  returning  on  Saturday.  I  did  not  write 
yesterday,  because  I  was  fully  persuaded  that  the  Convention 
would  have  closed  its  session  last  evening.  That  was  not  the 
case.  If  it  had  been,  I  should  this  morning  have  been  on  my 
way  home.  It  is  now  uncertain  whether  we  shall  get  through 
to-day.  If  we  do,  I  shall  certainly.  Providence  permitting,  be  at 
home  to-morrow  evening ;  but  you  must  not  be  disappointed  if 
I  should  be  delayed  yet  one  day  longer. 

"  It  will  give  you  pleasure  to  be  informed,  that  all  is  harmony 
and  peace.  Never  has  there  been  a  meeting  of  the  great  council 
of  our  church,  at  which  so  much  has  been  done,  and  so  well  and 
satisfactorily  done  ;  and  there  is  every  prospect  that  this  state  of 
things  will  continue  to  the  end.  We  have  had  many  interesting 
public  meetings  in  the  evening ;  one  last  night  at  St.  Stephen's, 
of  peculiar  interest. — Love  to  every  member  of  the  family. 
'  "Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  references  in  this  letter  are  to  the  well-known  General 
Convention  of  our  church  in  1835,  and  the  simultaneous  trien- 


HI^  MINISTRY.  495 

nial  meeting  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  at 
which  the  new  constitution  of  the  latter  was  adopted — ^proclaim- 
ing for  our  Zion  the  truth,  that  in  her  missionary  operations, 
"  THE  FIELD  IS  THE  WORLD ;"  and  placing  the  two  departments  of 
this  field,  the  domestic  and  the  foreign,  under  the  supervision  of 
two  distinct  executive  committees,  with  each  its  own  secretary 
and  general  agent.  The  history  of  this  important  change,  and 
of  its  results  in  our  missionary  operations,  it  is  not  necessary  in 
this  place  to  write.  That  history  lies  on  our  public  records,  and 
lives  in  our  public  doings.  The  first  meeting  of  "  The  Board  of 
Missions,"  the  new  body  "intrusted  with  the  supervision  of  the 
general  missionary  operations  of  the  church,"  was  held  in  Phila- 
delphia, Sept.  1,  1835,  when  the  two  executive  committees  were 
elected.  The  second  meeting  of  the  board  was  held  in  the  same 
city  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  when  the  two  secretaries  and 
general  agents  of  those  committees  were  elected.  This  election 
fell  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dorr,  for  the  domestic,  and  upon  Dr. 
Milnor,  for  the  foreign  committee. 

At  the  former  meeting  it  had  been  resolved,  that  the  domes- 
tic committee  should  be  located  in  New  York,  and  the  foreign  in 
Philadelphia ;  but  this  election  of  secretaries  at  the  second  meet- 
ing, induced  a  reconsideration,  in  consequence  of  which,  both 
committees  were  located  in  New  York. 

The  question  now  presented  itself  for  Dr.  Milnor's  considera- 
tion, whether  he  was  in  duty  bound  to  accept  the  important 
office  to  which  he  had  been  thus  called  ?  That  it  would,  at  first, 
be  a  laborious  office,  there  could  be  no  doubt.  The  whole  inter- 
nal economy  of  our  general  missionary  society  must  necessarily 
undergo  essential  modification.  Not  only  were  new  missions  to 
be  projected,  but  also  a  new  system  of  management  to  be  de- 
vised and  matured.  Every  thing  was  to  start  upon  a  plan  so 
new  in  the  xDffice  of  each  secretary,  as  to  require  nothing  less  than 
the  undivided  attention  of  each  for  at  least  the  first  year  of  oper- 
ation. Was  it  then  Dr.  Milnor's  duty  to  undertake  his  part  of 
the  task?  The  thought  of  resigning  his  rectorship,  and  retiring 
from  his  parish,  was  not  for  a  moment  to  be  entertained.  To 
dear  St.  George's  he  felt  himself  wedded  for  life.  And  yet  there 
was  a  manifest  suitableness  in  the  choice  which  had  called  hira 


496  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

to  the  head  of  the  foreign  department.  There  was  not  a  clerical 
man  in  our  church,  north,  south,  east,  or  west,  so  well  qualified 
for  the  post  as  himself ;  whether  by  general  and  accurate  busi- 
ness habits  and  experience,  or  by  particular  familiarity  with  the 
foreign  missionary  work.  The  whole  previous  course  of  his  life 
had  been  fitting  him,  though  without  apparent  design,  yet  with 
thorough  effect,  for  this  very  ofl[ice.  The  pressure  of  the  ques- 
tion upon  his  mind  at  length  determined  him  to  throw  the  whole 
upon  the  responsibility  of  his  vestry,  and  to  abide  their  decision 
of  the  case.  He  had  repeatedly  before  called  upon  them  for  sac- 
rifices of  parochial  to  public  good,  and  doubted  not,  that  if  duty 
seemed  to  them  to  point  distinctly  in  the  new  direction,  they 
would  be  found  capable  of  their  customary  magnanimity,  and 
without  hesitation  give  their  advice  in  accordance  with  right, 
though  against  the  leanings  of  inclination.  Accordingly,  a  meet- 
ing of  his  vestry  was  called,  and  the  case  submitted  to  their  con- 
sideration. It  should  be  stated,  that  the  annual  salary  of  each 
of  the  two  secretaries  had  been  fixed  by  the  board  at  $2,300. 
The  statement  which  he  laid  before  his  vestry  included  the  fol- 
lowing particulars. 

"  That  it  should  be  proposed  to  the  foreign  committee  to 
receive  Dr.  Milnor's  acceptance  of  the  office,  with  an  under- 
standing that  he  should  be  at  liberty  to  relinquish  it  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Missions  :  that  in  the  meantime  he 
should  decline  all  personal  emolument  from  the  office  ;  but  that, 
to  enable  him  to  detach  himself  as  much  as  his  agency  should 
require  from  the  duties  of  the  parish,  an  assistant  in  said  duties 
should  be  appointed  for  one  year,  with  an  adequate  salary,  say 
$1,000  ;  this  sum  to  be  paid  out  of  the  salary  appropriated  by 
the  Board  of  Missions  to  the  agent  of  the  foreign  committee,  the 
residue  of  the  stipend  of  the  agent  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  that 
committee. 

"  At  the  same  time  he  apprized  the  vestry,  that  in  the  event 
of  their  acceding  to  this  arrangement,  the  duties  of  his  agency 
might  be  expected  to  be  of  a  very  absorbing  nature.  The  office 
for  the  transaction  of  business  must  be  arranged  and  put  in  order ; 
the  minutes  and  papers  of  the  late  committee  be  examined ;  an 
extensive  correspondence  be  forthwith  entered  upon;   plans  be 


HIS  MINISTRY.  497 

projected  for  widening  the  sphere  of  missionary  operations,  and 
means  be  proposed  for  an  increase  of  pecuniary  resources,  pro- 
portioned to  the  noble  views  of  the  Church  in  reference  to  the 
great  work  of  which  she  had  now  assumed  the  charge.  Added 
to  these  duties,  frequent  absences  from  the  city  on  missionary 
business  would  be  indispensable  ;  and  when  at  home,  personal 
attendance  at  the  missionary  rooms  would  be  a  daily  duty. 

"Under  these  circumstances,  he  desired  them  seriously  to  con- 
sider whether,  as  the  representatives  of  the  congregation,  they 
could  make  such  a  sacrifice  to  the  interests  of  the  mission  cause ; 
declaring,  that  if  they  should  be  adverse  to  the  plan,  he  would 
decline  the  appointment,  and  content  himself  with  fulfilling  the 
ordinary  duties  of  a  member  of  the  committee.  But  if,  on  the 
contrary,  they  should  assent  to  his  engagement  in  the  duties  of 
the  agency  in  the  way  suggested,  though  he  felt  a  humble  sense 
of  his  insufficiency  for  the  work,  yet  he  would  enter  upon  it  in 
reliance  upon  the  help  of  God,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his 
brethren  ;  calculating  upon  a  more  laborious  course  of  bodily 
and  mental  service  than  he  had  yet  known,  and  earnestly  hoping 
that  the  result  might  redound  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the 
extension  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer." 

The  action  of  his  vestry  on  these  generous  and  Christian  pro- 
posals was  affirmative ;  they  consented  to,  and  advised  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  office ;  while  the  foreign  committee,  on  their 
part,  at  their  first  meeting,  October  12,  1835,  readily  acceded 
to  the  terms  on  which  his  acceptance  was  offered.  The  parochial 
assistant  appointed  by  his  vestry  was  the  Rev.  James  W.  Cooke, 
who  subsequently  became  one  of  our  highly  esteemed  foreign 
secretaries. 

The  expectations  raised  by  Dr.  Milnor's  acceptance  of  the 
office  were  not  disappointed.  He  impressed  on  his  department 
his  own  thorough  habits  of  business,  and  imparted  to  our  whole 
missionary  development  a  before  unattained  system  and  efficiency. 
It  is  presumed  that  few  if  any  will  deny,  that  in  its  practical 
details  and  workings,  our  general  missionary  organization,  espe- 
cially in  its  foreign  branch,  owes  more  to  him  than  to  any  other 
single  individual.  The  year  which  he  spent  in  the  office,  proved' 
indeed  one  of  his  most  laborious ;  for  it  must  be  remembered, 

Mem.  Milnor.  32    ^ 


498  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

that  he  held  at  the  same  time,  his  post  of  great  toil  both  in  the 
American  Bible  and  in  the  American  Tract  Societies,  besides 
various  other  places  of  responsibility  and  care  in  connection  with 
our  own  church  and  with  the  cause  of  general  benevolence.  So 
severe,  in  fact,  were  his  labors  during  this  year,  and  so  profoundly 
interested,  as  well  as  engrossed,  did  he  become  in  the  missionary 
department,  that  some  of  his  immediate  friends,  fearful  that  he 
might  be  induced  to  continue  his  agency  beyond  the  year  for 
which  he  engaged,  and  apprehensive  of  dangerous  consequences 
to  his  health  from  such  continuance,  felt  constrained  to  expostu- 
late with  him,  and  to  insist  upon  his  resignation  at  the  close  of 
the  specified  term.*  Accordingly,  at  the  first  annual  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Missions,  held  in  the  month  of  June,  1836,  his  resig- 
nation was  tendered,  and  by  the  following  action  of  the  board, 
accepted. 

*  Indeed,  his  own  vestry  took  up  the  matter,  as  the  following  extract  from 
their  minutes  demonstrates.  This  extract,  while  it  shows  the  reason  why  his 
resignation  was  tendered  before  his  year  had  expired,  shows  also  that  his  in- 
terest in  the  missionary  work  had  carried  him  to  the  point  of  proposing,  what 
he  at  first  thought  wholly  inadmissible,  the  resignation  of  his  rectorship,  and 
the  exclusive  devotion  of  his  remaining  days  to  service  in  his  missionary 
agency. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  of  St.  George's  church,  held  at  the  vestry-  ' 
room,  16th  JXine,  1836, 

"  Resolvedj  unanimously,  That  the  communication  from  the  Rector,  just 
read,  containing  a  candid  statement  of  his  embarrassing  situation,  as  Rector  of 
this  church  and  Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  Foreign  Committee  of  the 
Board  of  Missions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  soliciting  counsel 
and  direction  from  the  vestry,  presents  a  fair  view  of  the  circumstances  under 
which  he  was  led  to  consult,  and  the  vestry  to  consent  and  advise,  in  the  month 
of  October  last,  that  he  would  yield  to  the  wishes  of  the  church  by  undertak- 
ing the  arduous  duty  of  arranging,  maturing,  and  reducing  to  practice,  plans 
for  the  operations  of  foreign  missions  on  the  enlarged  and  spirited  scale  which 
had  been  recently  pledged. 

"  In  advising  him  to  that  course,  the  vestry  were  influenced  by  the  belief, 
that  he  might  render  essential  services  to  the  general  interests  of  religion, 
without  material  interference  with  his  paramount  duties  to  the  congregation, 
or  prejudice  to  his  own  health,  provided  the  new  office  was  seasonably  relin- 
quished. 

"  In  the  judgment  of  the  vestry  at  that  time,  the  extreme  term  for  which  it 
would  be  proper  for  the  rector  to  enter  into  these  engagements,  with  a  due 
regard  to  the  considerations  last  named,  was  a  single  year ;  and  beyond  that 
term  they  were  then  of  opinion,  and  still  entertain  the  belief,  that  their  con- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  499 

^'Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mibior  be  requested  to  con- 
tinue in  the  discharge  of  the  ofBcial  duties  of  Secretary  and  Gen- 
eral Agent,  until  a  successor  be  appointed  and  ready  to  enter  on 
the  duties  of  his  appointment ;  provided,  that  the  services  of  Dr. 
Milnor  are  not  understood  to  be  required  beyond  the  expiration  of 
a  year  from  the  time  when  he  commenced  his  duties. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  accepting  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Milnor,  as  Secretary  and  General  Agent  of  the  Committee  for 
Foreign  Missions,  the  Board  deeply  regret  the  necessity  which 
dictates  that  measure ;  and  would,  by  this  resolution,  express 
their  grateful  sense  of  the  eminent  ability,  zeal,  industry,  and 
success,  with  which,  under  divine  Providence,  he  has  been  per- 
mitted to  labor  so  faithfully  in  this  holy  cause." 

"  The  Rev.  John  A.  Vaughan,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Milnor." 
The  latter,  however,  continued  in  the  labors  of  the  office  until  the 
4th  of  October,  1836 ;  about  which  time  Dr.  Yaughan  took  his 
place,  and  with  distinguished  ability  conducted  the  affairs  of  his 
department.     The  final  report  of  his  doings,  which  Dr.  Milnor 

stituents  would  not  be  satisfied  to  make  the  sacrifices  incident  to  the  arrange- 
ment. It  now  appears,  that  the  year  for  which  the  rector  is  committed,  and 
to  which  the  vestry  consented,  will  not  have  been  completed  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Missions ;  but  the  vestry  fully  concur  with  the  rector 
as  to  the  propriety  of  his  signifying  to  the  board,  at  that  meeting,  his  deter- 
mination to  decline  a  reappointment,  that  they  may  immediately  provide  a 
successor,  unless  they  contemplate  a  special  meeting  at  the  expiration  of  his 
year. 

"  The  vestry  think  that  every  view  which  can  be  taken  of  the  subject, 
demonstrates  the  propriety  of  a  relinquishment  of  the  office  of  secretary  and 
general  agent  at  the  time  specified.  As  to  the  alternative  referred  to  by  the 
rector,  they  cannot,  either  for  themselves  or  for  the  congregation,  for  a  mo- 
ment listen  to  a  proposition  of  dissolving  the  ties  which  have  so  long  and  so 
afiectionately  and  happily  and  usefully  united  them  together,  that  he  might 
devote  himself  exclusively  to  the  missionary  cause.  They  believe  with  him, 
that  he  has  passed  the  period  of  life  at  which  it  would  be  practicable  to  con- 
tinue, for  a  length  of  time,  the  laborious  efforts  requisite  for  the  discharge  of 
both  offices.  They  have  lent  him  for  a  year,  and  have  reason  to  rejoice  in  the 
belief,  that  their  object  in  doing  so  has  been  fully  realized :  they  believe,  now, 
that  the  interests  of  the  congregation  require  his  speedy  return  to  his  pastoral 
duties ;  and  they  trust,  under  these  circumstances,  the  Board  of  Missions  will 
readily  acquiesce  in  the  opinion  expressed  by  them. 

"  Extract  from  the  minutes. 

"THOMAS  BLOODGOOD,  Clbrk." 


500  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

presented  on  retiring  from  his  labors,  and  which  recounts  his 
various  journeyings  through  different  states,  on  the  business  of 
his  agency,  may  be  found  in  the  "  Spirit  of  Missions,"  for  No- 
vember, 1836,  pp.  828-333. 

Nor  was  it  in  the  business  alone  of  our  missionary  organiza- 
tion, that  his  influence  was  benignly  felt,  but  in  the  spirit  also, 
which  began  increasingly  to  pervade  the  missionary  life  of  our 
church.  The  different  diocesan  conventions,  and  their  simulta- 
neous missionary  meetings,  which  he  attended  for  the  purpose  of 
addressing  their  assembled  clergy  and  laity,  became,  in  no  poor 
sense,  scenes  of  missionary  revival ;  and  the  sermons  which  he 
preached  at  many  other  places  on  his  way,  were  the  blessed  means 
of  diffusing  among  our  people  some  portion  of  his  own  pure  and 
ardent  missionary  zeal.  In  short,  the  year  of  his  secretaryship 
and  general  agency,  while  it  was  doubtless  the  culminating  point 
of  his  ascent  along  the  path  of  active  duty,  was  also  to  our  church 
a  season  of  rich  and  lasting  benefit,  from  the  holy  influence  which 
he  carried  with  him  and  shed  along  his  course. 

His  correspondence  during  this  year  had  more  or  less  direct 
reference  to  the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged.  Much  of  this 
correspondence  has  been  lost,  and  much  more  might  be  obtained 
by  searching  the  papers  which  he  left  in  the  office  of  the  foreign 
oonmiittee.  Being  chiefly  of  a  business  nature,  however,  it  is 
not  important  to  the  memoir ;  we  therefore  content  ourselves 
with  a  few  of  the  letters  which  lie  within  reach.  The  first  was 
addressed  to  the  present  writer. 

"New  York,  Jan.  11,  1836. 
"Rev.  and  dear  Brother — Mr.  Southgate's  appeal  for  the 
Persian  mission,  wherever  it  has  been  made,  has  excited  great 
interest,  and  we  are  persuaded  we  could  not  have  engaged  in  any 
foreign  missionary  object  either  more  eligible  in  itself,  or  more 
likely  to  receive  from  the  church  a  generous  measure  of  support. 
It  is,  however,  desirable  that  he  should  enter  on  it  at  as  early  a 
period  as  possible ;  and  with  that  view,  be  in  a  few  weeks  on  his 
voyage  towards  the  place  of  his  destination.  This  will  prevent 
any  very  extensive  plan  of  collection,  which  is,  indeed,  rendered 
less  necessary  by  the  very  liberal  pledge  of  St.  Andrew's,  Phila- 


HIS   MINISTRY.  501 

delphia.  That  congregation  alone,  if  we  are  not  mistaken  in  the 
sum  requisite  for  that  purpose,  will  furnish  his  support  for  three 
years.  But  money  is  wanted  for  outfit,  passage,  and  other  con- 
tingencies ;  and  we  are  desirous  also,  of  giving  him  as  soon  as 
possible,^  at  least  one  associate.  Very  opportunely,  an  individual 
offers  himself  for  this  purpose ;  and  in  the  view  of  those  who 
know  him  intimately,  one  admirably,  fitted  for  this  oflice.  Dr. 
Savage,  whom  perhaps  you  may  have  known  some  years  ago,  at 
New  Haven,  and  who  is  now  pursuing  his  studies  at  the  Yirginia 
Theological  Seminary,  having  offered  himself  for  service  as  a  for- 
eign missionary,  Mr.  Southgate  went  to  see  and  converse  with 
him;  and  the  result  is,  a  persuasion  that  Dr.  Savage  is  the  yery 
man  he  could  have  desired  to  be  united  with  him  in  his  benevo- 
lent work  among  the  votaries  of  the  false  prophet.  Now  we 
want  our  friends,  in  those  places  where  it  is  practicable  for  Mr. 
Southgate  to  present  his  interesting  appeal,  to  afford  him  an  op- 
portunity for  so  doing,  both  with  a  view  to  the  supply  of  imme- 
diate means,  and  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  information,  and 
thereby  enlisting  permanent  feeling  in  favor  of  the  object. 

"We  have  been  made  acquainted  with  your  kindness  in 
opening  your  church  for  an  evening  service  with  that  view ;  but 
as  the  weather  was  unfavorable,  I  would  take  the  liberty  of  sug- 
gesting that  you  would  much  gratify  the  committee  by  allowing 
Mr.  Southgate  to  preach,  and  take  a  collection  in  St.  Paul's,  on 
some  early  Sunday  morning.  I  suppose  it  would  be  too  presum- 
ing in  me  to  say,  that  if  Boston  would  undertake  to  support  Dr. 
Savage,  as  Philadelphia  has  Mr.  Southgate,  it  would  tell  more  on 
the  interests  of  foreign  missions,  in  the  way  of  example,  than 
even  a  liberal  donation  would  subserve  the  particular  object  to 
which  it  would  be  applied. 

"  I  write  from  my  chamber,  having  been  confined  a  few  days 

by  indisposition,  which  must  be  my  apology  for  the  character 

and  brevity  of  this  communication  from 

"Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"The  Rev.  John  S.  Stone." 

"  The  Persian  mission,"  mentioned  in  this  letter,  was  that 
originally  contemplated  in  Mr.  Southgate's  labors  among  the  Ma^ 


502  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

homedans.  The  ground  was  surveyed,  but  never  occupied  by 
him,  his  attention  being  subsequently  diverted  in  favor  of  a  mis- 
sion among  the  Turco-Armenian  Christians.  The  change  was 
an  unhappy  one,  and  has  been  the  cause  of  much  painful  excite- 
ment in  the  missionary  world,  and  of  enduring  dissatisfaction  to 
the  committee  by  whom  Mr.  Southgate  was  sent  forth.  Dr. 
Savage  never  became  his  associate,  but  was  soon  placed  at  the 
head  of  our  mission  to  Africa,  where  he  labored  successfully, 
tm  a  shattered  constitution  compelled  him  to  retreat  from  the 
field  of  peril. 

The  next  letter,  to  the  same  correspondent,  was  written  after 
the  state  of  his  health  had  determined  him  to  decline  a  reap- 
pointment to  the  office  which  he  held.  The  gout,  of  which  he 
complains,  was  not  his  only  trouble.  His  general  health  had 
suffered  so  much,  and  so  evidently,  under  the  pressure  of  his 
labors,  that  his  son  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Milnor  was  apprehensive  that 
their  continuance  for  another  year  would  prove  fatal ;  so  fully 
did  he,  in  this  case,  exhibit  his  disposition  to  do  "  with  his 
might,"  whatever  he  consented  to  undertake. 

"New  York,  Monday,  May  13,  1836. 
"My  dear  Friend — ^You  must  forgive  my  peevish  letter  of 
Friday  last.  The  gout  is  apt  to  make  its  subject  querulous,  and 
I  was  suffering  under  the  lingering  remains  of  the  disease,  or 
perhaps  I  should  have  considered  myself  as  having  no  right  to 
complain  of  arrangements,  which,  if  they  disappointed  me,  were 
no  doubt  to  be  productive  of  greater  advantages  in  some  other 
way.  It  has,  however,  happened  well  enough  ;  for  though,  by  a 
great  effort — my  assistant  being  absent — I  went  through  the 
whole  service,  and  preached  yesterday  morning,  yet  I  was  obliged 
to  go  to  bed  immediately  afterwards,  and  have  since  been  more 
unwell.  Under  any  circumstances,  I  could  not  have  ventured 
to  set  out  on  a  journey  to-day,  though  I  bless  God,  I  am  better 
this  morning  than  I  have  been  for  a  fortnight,  and  am  encour- 
aged to  hope,  that  in  a  few  days  I  shall  again  be  well.  On  an- 
other account,  I  regret  less  my  disappointment  in  regard  to  the 
Massachusetts  Convention.  I  am  engaged  in  preparing  the  an- 
nual report,  which  will  be  a  pretty  long  document.     The  rough 


V  oy  THiJ  ' f 


OK  THiJ 

^'UNIVEESIT 

HIS  MINISTRY. 


draft  for  my  clerk  to  copy,  I  expected  to  have  completed 
urday  ;  but  it  would  have  been  a  hurried  work.  My  remaining 
at  home  will  enable  me  to  complete  it  more  at  my  leisure.  As 
my  concern  with  it  will  be  over  in  a  day  or  two,  if  you  desire  it 
and  think  it  would  be  useful,  I  will  leave  New  York  on  Friday 
evening  next,  and  spend  Sunday  with  you,  returning  on  Monday. 
But  this  must  depend  entirely  on  your  own  wishes,  as  I  have  no 
desire  to  leave  home  but  with  a  view  to  usefulness  in  the  mis- 
sionary cause. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  brother,  let  me  entreat  you  to  make  your 
arrangements  for  being  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  as 
an  adviser  in  the  important  business  of  appointing  a  successor  to 
me  in  the  office  of  secretary  and  general  agent.  I  hope  your 
good  bishop  and  Messrs.  Bdson,  Tuckerman,  and  Greenleaf,  who 
are  members,  will  not  fail  to  attend.  I  am  deeply  solicitous- to 
have  a  better  man  than  its  present  occupant  for  an  office  which 
he  is  compelled  to  relinquish.  If  such  a  man  as  some  would  be 
disposed  to  put  into  it,  is  elected,  our  missionary  cause,  now  so 
hopefully  prosperous,  will  be  ruined.  I  wish  it  to  be  understood, 
that  under  no  circumstances  is  it  possible  for  me  to  continue. 

"  My  suggested  visit  will  depend  altogether  on  my  hearing 
from  you  on  or  before  Friday  next ;  so  that,  if  you  should  think 
it  expedient  for  me  to  come,  I  may  leave  on  that  day.  When 
you  write,  say  whether  you  have  had  any  person  in  view  for  the 
office  which  I  now  fill.  How  would  Mr,  Vaughan  answer? 
Would  he  serve  ?  And  are  you  willing  to  give  him  up  ?  If  not, 
who  else  could  be  had  ? 

"  Truly  and  affectionately  yours, 

«  JAMES  MILNOR." 

"The  Rev.  John  S.  Stone." 

The  report  of  which  Dr.  Milnor  speaks  in  this  letter,  was  prob- 
ably the  annual  report  of  the  Foreign  Committee  ;  if  so,  however, 
subsequent  letters  to  the  same  correspondent  show  that  he  did 
not  complete  it  until  the  middle  of  June,  so  much  labor  did  it 
require,  and  so  much  was  he  interrupted  by  sickness  and  by  calls 
of  persons  on  business.  The  Massachusetts  Convention,  of  which 
he  speaks,  was  not  held  till  the  15th  of  this  month.  His  attend- 
ance, during  the  session,  as  missionary  agent,  had  been  expected ; 


504  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

but  the  state  of  his  health,  and  some  misunderstanding  about  the 
arrangements  for  a  missionary  meeting  during  the  session  of  the 
convention,  led  to  mutual  disappointment.  From  a  letter  which 
he  received,  he  inferred  that  Bishop  Gris wold  objected  to  his  visit 
in  an  official  capacity ;  a  decision  of  which  he  complained  as  '^  a 
mortifying  and  perplexing  rebuff;  and  the  more  so,  inasmuch  as 
it  was  the  first  he  had  received."  The  mistake  was  instantly 
corrected,  though  at  too  late  an  hour  to  secure  his  presence  at  the 
convention,  even  had  his  health  been  such  as  to  admit  of  a  jour- 
ney. Both  himself,  however,  and  Mr.  Dorr,  the  domestic  secre- 
tary, were  present  at  the  convention  of  "the  Eastern  diocese," 
held  in  Boston  on  the  28th  of  the  ensuing  September,  when  they 
were  greeted  with  the  kindest  reception,  and  their  missionary 
appeals  met  with  the  most  cordial  response.  The  following  let- 
ter, written  during  the  session  of  the  Massachusetts  convention, 
is  an  instance  of  his  readiness  to  take  undue  blame  to  himself, 
when  others  were  more  deeply  in  fault. 

"New  York,  June  16,  1836, 
"Rev.  and  dear  Brother — Your  letter  of  the  14th  I  have 
just  received  on  my  bed,  where  I  have  been  obliged  to  remain  two 
or  three  hours  after  my  usual  time  of  rising,  from  the  effects  ol 
medicine  taken  last  night.  I  have  got  up  to  return  an  immediate 
answer,  feel  better,  and  hope  I  shall  be  able  to-day  to  complete 
the  annual  report,  and  attend  a  special  meeting  of  the  commit- 
tee this  evening. 

"  Your  explanation  is  entirely  satisfactory ;  and  if  you  are 
sorry  for  having  written  in  haste,  so  am  I  for  my  peevish  reply. 
I  hope,  if  dear  Bishop  Griswold  knows  any  thing  about  it,  you 
will  in  my  behalf  ask  his  forgiveness  for  my  unbecoming  and 
unchristian  jealousy  of  his  and  others'  feelings  towards  our  glo- 
rious cause. 

"And  now,  dear  brother,  I  feel  more  sorrow  than  I  can  ex- 
press, that  it  has  pleased  God  to  disappoint  my  hope  of  being 
with  you  on  Sunday.  I  am  not  seriously  sick,  but  so  prostrated 
by  my  late  severe  cold,  that  my  family  will  not  allow  me  to  think 
of  leaving  home  so  early  as  to-morrow.  The  Lord  having  so 
ordered  events,  I  am  ashamed  that  I  do  npt  feel  more  submission. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  505 

It  is,  perhaps,  '  all  for  the  best.'  I  have  much,  very  much,  yet 
to  do  before  the  annual  meeting,  and  I  can  do  it  the  better  for 
the  additional  time  given  me  by  remaining  at  home.  I  am  glad 
notice  has  been  withheld,  and  I  hope  if  I  do  not  visit  you  officially 
in  the  course  of  the  summer,  I  may  do  it  as  a  friend.  In  the 
meantime,  believe  me,  more  affectionately  than  ever, 
"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"The  Rev.  John  S.  Ston^." 

The  following  bears  the  same  date  with  his  resignation  to  the 
Board  of  Missions,  of  his  office  as  secretary  and  general  agent. 

"New  York,  June  28,  1836. 

"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  return  you  many  thanlis  for 
your  very  kind  and  interesting  letter  of  the  10th  inst.,  of  which 
I  had  great  pleasure  in  laying  so  much  as  was  official  before  the 
foreign  committee  on  the  day  of  its  receipt,  the  16th. 

"  Few  circumstances  were  better  calculated  to  fill  my  mind 
with  pleasing  anticipations,  than  your  invitation  to  be  present  at 
your  next  diocesan  convention;  and  if  divine  Providence  should 
favor  me  with  health,  and  I  should  then  be  in  the  exercise  of  my 
present  functions  as  secretary  and  general  agent  of  the  foreign 
committee,  I  entertain  the  hope  that  I  may  be  allowed  the  privi- 
lege of  meeting  you  at  Cleveland,  ready  to  sow  as  God  may  give 
the  ability,  a  portion  of  missionary  seed  in  what  I  trust  will  prove 
the  prolific  soil  of  Ohio. 

"  But  I  have  been  cons'lrained  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  present 
to  the  Board  of  Missions  my  resignation  of  the  office  of  secretary 
and  general  agent ;  consenting  to  act,  should  it  be  necessary,  until 
the  middle  of  October  next,  when  my  full  year  of  service  will 
expire.  The  Board  have,  in  very  kind  terms,  accepted  my  resig- 
nation, and  elected  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yaughan,  of  Salem,  my  succes- 
sor. Whether  he  will  accept  the  station  is  not  yet  known.  From 
all  that  I  have  heard  of  his  character  and  qualifications,  I  sin- 
cerely hope  he  may.  If  he  should  not,  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Missions  will  be  necessary  to  fill  the  vacancy,  as  no  pro- 
vision is  made  in  the  constitution  for  any  other  method  of  effecting 
that  object,  and  as  it  would  be  almost  ruinous  to  the  cause  of  our 


506  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILIfOR. 

foreign  missions  for  the  committee  to  be  without  a  secretary  and 
general  agent  until  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  next  year. 

"  From  my  great  love  to  the  missionary  cause,  and  especially 
the  extension  of  our  efforts  into  foreign  lands,  and  from  the  grati- 
fication which  the  absorbing  duties  of  my  office  have  afforded  me 
for  the  last  eight  months,  I  lamented  the  necessity  of  my  resigna- 
tion. But  it  was  impossible  to  continue  my  services  without 
abandoning  my  connection  with  St.  George's ;  and  of  this,  neither 
my  own  feelings  nor  those  of  my  beloved  people  would  allow. 
In  the  missionary  office,  my  time  of  life  warned  me  that  I  could 
not  for  many  years  render  efficient  and  satisfactory  service.  In 
my  parish,  with  such  aid  as  they  are  willing  to  allow  me  if  I  re- 
quire it,  I  might,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  be  much  longer  useful. , 
Relinquishing,  a  few  years  hence,  my  present  office,  I  should  be 
left  without  the  opportunity  for  ministerial  usefulness  during  the 
remainder  of  my  life.  Retaining  my  parochial  charge,  there  are 
many  ways  in  which  I  might  much  longer  serve  my  gracious 
Iilaster,  and  promote  the  spiritual  interests  of  an  attached  and 
most  indulgent  people. 

"  My  course,  though  professedly  regretted  by  my  friends,  yet 
has  generally  been  considered  that  which  duty  required  me  to 
pursue  ;  and  I  shall  be  happy  to  have  the  approval  of  one  with 
whom  it  has  been  my  delight  to  '  take  sweet  counsel '  for  so  many 
years.  "  Your  faithful  friend  and  servant, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  McIlvaine." 

It  had  been  one  of  Dr.  Milnor's  favorite  objects,  during  his 
secretaryship,  to  organize,  and  bring  into  operative  aid  of  the 
committee  which  he  represented,  a  "  Female  Foreign  Mission- 
School  Society."  But  at  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Board, 
objections  were  urged  against  it ;  and  as  his  term  of  office  was 
so  near  its  expiration,  he  did  not  press  the  measure,  and  the 
nascfent  organization  was  suffered  to  die  in  its  birth.  This  is 
the  substance  of  a  letter  to  the  -  present  writer,  dated  July  12, 
1836.  The  next  on  hand  was  preparatory  to  his  projected  tour — 
a  hint  of  which  is  contained  in  his  last  letter  to  Bishop  Mcll- 
vaine — to  meet  the  diocesan  convention  of  the  church  in  Ohio,  at 
Cleveland.     It  was  dated. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  507 

"New  York,  Aug.  11,  1836. 

"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — ^Agreeably  to  your  kind  invita- 
tion, I  am  endeavoring  to  make  all  practicable  arrangements  for 
being  present  at  your  convention  at  Cleveland,  iiitending  to  make 
that  tour  the  close  of  my  year's  service  in  the  cause  of  foreign 
missions. 

"  I  should  have  returned  an  earlier  answer  to  your  last  oblig- 
ing favor,  but  the  amount  of  business  in  hand,  and  the  little 
prospect  of  obtaining  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yaughan  until 
the  middle  of  September,  threw  so  much  discouragement  in  the 
way  of  my  leaving  home,  that  I  was  afraid  of  holding  out  any 
decisive  prospect.  Now,  however,  I  have  better  hopes.  In  con- 
junction with  my  friend,  or  rather  his  substitute,  of  the  domestic 
agency,  I  have  got  through  the  editing  of  the  sixth,  seventh,  and 
eighth  numbers  of  the  "  Spirit  of  Missions,"  and  the  publication 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Missions — ^which  last  will 
make  quite  a  large  pamphlet.  I  have  also  finished  the  required 
arrangements  in  regard  to  several  new  missions.  By  declining 
your  suggestion,  which  I  do  very  unwillingly,  in  regard  to  the 
Commencement  at  Gambler,  and  proceeding  directly,  by  way  of 
Buffalo,  to  Cleveland,  I  can  accomplish  much  that  will  relieve 
the  labors  of  my  successor. 

"I  shall  be  able  to  make  many  needful  arrangements  with 
Dr.  Robertson,  who  is  now  here  on  a  visit  of  business ;  finish  all 
our  transactions  in  reference  to  the  mission  at  Athens,  before  Mrs. 
Hill's  departure,  which  will  be  on  the  24th  instant,  and  before 
Mr.  Benton's  for  Crete,  which  will  be  a  few  days  sooner  ;  assist, 
in  their  preparations,  our  two  heroic  young  missionaries  for  Af- 
rica, Messrs.  Minor  and  Payne,  of  the  Virginia  seminary,  and 
tranquillize  the  feelings  of  two  or  three  other  anxious  expectants 
of  missionary  appointments  ;  and  finally,  shall  find  it  possible  to 
spend  a  few  days  with  Mr.  Yaughan,  to  initiate  him  into  the 
business  of  the  office,  he  having  just  informed  me,  that  under 
the  circumstances  which  I  have  stated,  he  will  come  on  about 
the  20th  of  this  month.  If,  therefore,  Providence  permit,  I  hope 
to  see  you  at  Cleveland  on  the  8th  of  next  month. 
"  I  am,  very  truly  and  respectfully,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 


508  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

He  left  l^ome  on  Monday,  August  29,  and  upon  reaching  Buf- 
falo, addressed  to  Mrs.  Milnor  the  following  almost  amusingly 
afflictive  account  of  the  manner  In  which  he  had  been  unexpect- 
edly thrown  upon  his  extemporaneous  resources  in  speaking. 

"Buffalo,  Sept.  4,  1836. 

"My  dear  Ellen — My  last  was  dated  at  Auburn.  I  left 
there  on  Thursday,  about  one  o'clock,  for  Canandaigua,  which 
we  did  not  reach  till  ten  o'clock  at  night.  At  four  the  next 
morning,  I  proceeded  in  the  stage  for  Batavia,  where  I  arrived 
about  five  in  the  afternoon.  Having  caused  notice  to  be  given 
that  I  would  preach  in  the  evening,  I  was  no  sooner  fixed  at  my 
lodgings  with  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bolles,  than  I  went  to  my 
chamber  to  change  my  clothes ;  which,  having  accomplished,  as 
the  hour  for  service  was  at  hand,  I  went  to  the  bottom  of  my 
trunk  in  search  for  my  package  of  sermons,  when  behold,  it  was 
not  to  be  found.  How  you  could  have  omitted  to  put  it  into  my 
trunk,  I  cannot  divine.  I  am  certain  I  sent  it  up  to  the  cham- 
ber— I  think,  by  James :  and  now  I  can  only  blame  myself  that 
I  did  not  ascertain  the  fact  of  your  having  put  them  into  the 
trunk,  by  inquiry  or  personal  examination.  Under  such  unfortu- 
nate circumstances,  I  would  willingly  have  declined  all  service, 
and  have  returned  home  ;  but  I  thought  myself  condemned  to  the 
mortification  of  addressing  the  congregation  at  Batavia  wholly 
without  preparation,  for  the  time  admitted  of  none.  I  did  so ; 
and  although  my  young  friend  Bolles  was  pleased  to  solace  my 
feelings  when  I  had  done,  by  saying  that  '  my  loss  was  their 
gain,'  yet  I  was  enough  chagrined  and  dissatisfied  with  my  per- 
formance to  rob  me  of  the  comfort  of  sleep."  An  evidence,  by 
the  way,  of  the  manner  in  which  the  severity  of  his  late  labors 
for  the  committee  were  known  to  have  affected  his  whole  nervous 
system. 

"  Yesterday,  I  came  to  this  place  in  the  afternoon,  and  found 
that  notice  had  been  given  last  Sunday,  that  I  would  preach  to- 
day, and  that  Mr.  Shelton,  depending  on  me  for  the  whole  day, 
had  prepared  no  discourse.  It  happened,  providentially,  that  I 
had  with  me  one  sermon,  that  which  I  preached  l&st  Sunday 
morning  in  St.  George's,  and  which,  on  account  of  its  being  in 


HIS  MINISTRY.  509 

the  velvet  cover,  I  threw  into  the  top  of  my  trunk,  just  before  it 
was  closed. 

"  To-morrow,  or  next  day,  I  take  the  steamer  for  Cleveland. 
You  may  judge  with  what  unhappy  feelings  I  go  among  a  large 
body  of  respectable  clergy  and  laity,  wholly  unprepared  to  meet 
the  expectations  which  have  been  raised.  I  pray  God  he  may 
enable  me,  however  imperfectly,  to  do  something  in  the  cause  on 
which,  in  his  name,  I  am  sent. 

"  Immediately  on  my  arrival  in  Buffalo,  I  went  to  the  post- 
office,  with  the  hope  of  at  least  receiving  a  letter,  written  after 
your  discovery  of  the  omission ;  and  I  even  hoped  that  you  might 
have  found,  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Cooke  or  Henry,  some 
opportunity,  by  a  merchant  coming  immediately  to  this  place,  to 
send  on  the  sermons.  But  not  a  letter  was  there  for  me.  I  think 
I  shall  delay  going  to  Cleveland  till  Tuesday,  under  the  hope 
that  the  mail  of  to-day  or  to-morrow  may  relieve  my  anxiety. 

"  But  it  is  useless  to  say  more  on  the  subject.  No  doubt,  I 
merit  the  mortification  which  I  feel.  All  I  fear  is,  its  injury  to 
the  cause  committed  to  my  charge.  I  shall,  of  course,  so  soon 
as  the  convention  at  Cleveland  is  over,  hasten  back,  making  no 
appointments  to  preach  on  the  way  home,  and  probably,  God 
willing,  reaching  you  the  latter  end  of  next  week. 

"Give  my  love  to  all  the  family,  and  believe  me 
"Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
"Mrs.  Eleanor  MiLNOR." 

From  a  subsequent  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  from  Cleveland,  it 
appears  that  he  preached  at  Buffalo  Sunday  morning,  and  deliv- 
ered a  missionary  address  in  the  afternoon,  followed  by  a  collec- 
tion ;  and  that  he  started  for  Cleveland  at  nine  o'clock  Monday 
morning,  in  a  steamer,  not  of  the  largest  class,  loaded  with  "more 
than  eight  hundred  passengers."     ' 

"  Our  machinery,"  he  says,  "  gave  way  several  times,  and 
made  it  necessary  to  stop  for  repairs ;  but  no  serious  difficulty 
occurred.  I  feel  extremely  at  a  loss  for  my  sermons,  considering 
the  expectations  which  have  been  entertained  of  the  part  I  was 
to  take  in  the  religious  exercises  of  the  convention.  I  shall  do, 
however,  as  well  as  I  can ;  and  as  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  large 


510  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

assemblage  of  clergy,  and  among  them  Bishop  McCoskry,  the 
want  of  my  services  will  not  be  felt.  "We  hope  to  have  an  inter- 
esting missionary  meeting  to-morrow  or  next  day." 

Such,  so  far  as  it  is  at  present  accessible,  is  all  the  account 
that  can  be  given  of  this,  the  last  missionary  tour  undertaken 
during  his  agency.  From  his  known  talents  as  an  extemporane- 
ous speaker,  and  from  the  freshness  in  his  mind  of  our  current 
missionary  statistics,  he  probably  spoke  as  much  and  as  well 
without  his  "  sermons,"  as  he  would  have  done  with  them ;  and 
possibly  with  more  popular  effect,  from  the  greater  freedom  of 
his  manner. 


.      SECTION  III. 

"With  the  close  of  his  missionary  agency  we  are  already  ac- 
quainted; and  as  Mr.  Cooke  continued  most  acceptably  to  labor 
in  St.  George's  as  his  assistant,  for  some  time  after  his  reengage- 
ment  exclusively  in  the  duties  of  his  parish  and  in  his  ordinary 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  general  benevolence,  he  speedily  recovered 
the  customary  tone  of  his  health,  and  the  current  of  his  life  began 
again  to  flow  in  its  wonted  channel. 

The  following  brief  but  interesting  letters  from  across  the 
waters,  were  received  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1836. 

From  Mr.  Vansittart,  Lord  Bexley. 

"Foot's  Cray  Place,  June  9,  1836. 

"Dear "Sir — I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  letter  of  the 
8th  March,  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Jackson" — ^the  late  Rev.  William 
Jackson — "  and  of  hearing  one  of  his  able  and  valuable  statements 
in  Exeter  Hall.  I  had  also  once  the  honor  of  receiving  him  at 
dinner ;  but  the  hospitality  which  I  should  have  been  happy  to 
show  him,  as  well  as  my  attendance  at  religious  meetings  this  year, 
has  been  checked  by  the  pressure  of  a  heavy  domestic  affliction. 

"  I  was  happy  to  receive  from  his  conversation,  as  well  as 
from  other  accounts,  so  favorable  a  statement  of  the  progress  of 
the  Episcopal  church  in  the  United  States.  God  grant  that  it 
may  rapidly  extend  its  limits  still  further,  and  obtain  increasing 


HIS  MINISTRY.  511 

success  against  infidelity  and  false  doctrine.  The  consecration 
of  missionary  bishops  not  having  a  specific  diocese,  is,  I  think, 
new  in  the  Church ;  but,  in  the  circumstances  of  your  country, 
it  seems  to  me  a  happy  novelty.  The  ministry  of  the  apostles 
must  necessarily  have  been  of  that  character.  It  has  also  much 
of  "\yhat  Dr,  Chalmers  recommends  in  what  he  calls  '  the  aggres- 
sive character;''  and  such  I  hope  it  will  prove,  against  ignorance, 
error,  and  unbelief.  Perhaps  we  may  consider  our  new  colonial 
bishops  of  Madras,  Bombay,  and  Australia,  though  each  fixed  to 
a  particular  diocese,  yet,  considering  the  vast  extent  and  peculiar 
nature  of  those  dioceses,  as  having  a  very  similar  character  in 
respect  to  duty  and  jurisdiction. 

"I  hope  you  will  not  think  any  apology  necessary  when  you 
may  give  another  friend  a  letter  of  introduction  to  me,  as  it  will 
always  give  me  pleasure  to  receive  any  communication  from  you, 
but  especially  when  it  affords,  at  the  same  time,  an  opportunity 
of  forming  so  valuable  an  acquaintance  as  Mr.  Jackson's.  Be- 
lieve me,  dear  sir, 

"Very  faithfully,  yours, 

"BEXLEY." 
"  The  Rev.  Dr.  MiLNOR." 

From  James  Montgomery,  Esq. 

"The  Mount,  near  Sheffield,  October  15,  1836. 
"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  have  unexpectediy  caught  a  minute 
on  the  wing,  after  I  had  lost,  as  I  supposed,  all  opportunity  of 
doing  it,  to  shake  hands  with  you  across  the  Atlantic,  to  thank 
you  for  your  kind  note  of  remembrance  by  Dr.  Fisk,  and  to  assure 
you  of  my  sincere  respect  and  esteem,  associated  with  pleasant 
recollections  of  the  brief  but  lucid  moments  of  Christian  inter- 
course which  we  had  together,  when  you  were  in  this  country. 
There  is  *  another  country,'  of  which  all  of  every  land  on  earth, 
that  are  born  of  God,  become  by  that  very  fact  natives— even  a 
heavenly  country :  there  may  we,  and  all  whom  we  have  known 
in  the  flesh  as  of  one  spirit  with  us  in  the  Lord,  find  ourselves 
at  home  and  for  ever  with  him,  at  the  end  of  our  pilgrimage. 
Meanwhile,  I  am  truly 

"  Your  friend,  in  great  haste, 

„rx„     X.        X.     ,,  „  "J.MONTGOMERY." 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor." 


512  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

;•  In  the  first  line  of  this  letter  we  see  the  poet ;  in  every  other, 
the  Christian — synonyms,  severally  and  together,  of  the  beloved 
name-  subscribed. 

In  entering  on  the  year  1837,  we  find  little  to  mark  the  course 
of  Dr.  Milnor,  save  in  the  quiet  steps  which  he  took  on  his  well- 
known  rounds  of  parochial  duty,  and  in  his  various  engagements 
with  benevolent  institutions.  He  continued,  indeed,  till  the  day 
of  his  death,  an  acting  member  of  the  foreign  executive  com-; 
mittee,  whose  first  secretary  he  had  been ;  and  his  interest  in 
our  foreign  missions  remained  unabated  while  his  life  was  spared ; 
but  his  action  in  this  capacity  presents  nothing  distinctive  from 
that  of  his  fellow-members,  as  it  lies  on  the  records  of  the  com- 
mittee. The  few  letters,  therefore,  which  have  survived  for  our 
use,  still  furnish  us  with  the  principal  vestiges  of  his  remaining 
life.     Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  year,  he  wrote  as  follows :     j 

To  Bishop    Mcllvaine,.  ,  j 

"  New  York,  January  31,  1837. 

"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — Immediately  on  the  receipt  of 
your  obliging  favor  of  the  I7th  instant,  I  sent  to  the  friends  of 

Mr. ,"  a  beneficiary  in  Kenyon  college,  who  had  apparently 

proved  unworthy,  "to  acquaint  them  with  the  state  of  things, 
and  advise  them  as  to  the  course  which  they  should  pursue.  His 
brother-in-law  called  on  me  this  morning,  and  the  result  of  our 
interview  was  his  saying,  that  money  should  be  forthwith  sent  to 
him  to  enable  him  to  liquidate  his  debts  at  Gambler,  and  defray 
his  expenses  to  New  York.  I  regret  this  event,  both  on  account 
of  the  young  man  himself,  and  in  view  of  the  unpropjtious 
influence  which  it  is  likely  to  have  on  the  minds  of  our  lay, 
brethren,  in  regard  to  sustaining  a  branch  of  Christian  charity 
subject  to  such  disappointments.  He  has  written  me  a  very 
appropriate  letter,  which  I  will  lay  before  the  directors  of  our 
association" — a  society  in  St.  George's  for  benevolent  objects — 
"  at  the  next  meeting ;  and  as  you  suggest,  will  return  him  a 
kind  answer. 

"I  will  apply  to  the  American  Bible  Society  for  the  quarto 
Bible  for  the  society  of  theological  students  at  Kenyon  college, 
and  to  'th«  Press'  for  the  Prayer-Book  ;  and  if  obtained,  have 


HIS  MINISTRY.  513 

them  put  in  the  hands  of  our  friend  White,  to  be  forwarded  by 
him  at  the  opening  of  the  spring  navigation. 

"  I  exceedingly  lament  the  revival  of  controversy  in  the 
Church."  [The  tractarian  movement  begins  its  development.] 
"  I  fear  a  new  oomer  among  us  has  been  a  very  active  agent  in 
inciting  our  brother to  his  present  course.  I  have  no  hesi- 
tation in  saying,  that  I  believe  the  reputed  author  of  '  Protestant 
Jesuitism,'  who  is  his  constant  companion,  has  been  instrumental 
in  prompting  him  to  his  attack  on  Temperance,  Bible,  and  Tract 
societies.  For  my  own  part,  I  purpose,  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
to  drop  his  paper,  the  influence  of  which,  as  for  some  time  past 
conducted,  is  decidedly  irreligious  ;  and  not  a  number  of  which, 
for  the  last  twelvemonth,  has  been  without  some  article,  editorial 
or  communicated,  offensive  to  the  feelings  of  moderate  church- 
men  and  evangelical  Christians.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that 
the  very  superior  talents  of  the  editor  should  be  so  employed. 
His  influence  on  the  students  in  the  seminary  is  of  the  most 
unhappy  kind,  because  his  communication  with  them  affords 
him  the  opportunity  of  orally  impressing  on  them  the  leading 
doctrines  of  his  paper,  and  of  filling  their  minds  with  prejudices 
against  all  who  do  not  subscribe  to  his  exclusive  and  ultra-high 

tenets.     The  bishop  told  me,  to-day,  that  Mr.  had  been 

advised  to  cease  from  his  assaults  on  the  Recorder  and  Dr.  Tyng; 
and  that  he  believed  there  would  be  no  more  matter  of  that  sort 
in  the  paper.  I  have  written  to  the  editor  of  the  Recorder, 
advising  him  to  take  no  notice  whatever  of  his  attacks,  should 
they  be  continued. 

"  For  my  own  part,  having  now  reached  my  '  grand  climac- 
teric,' it  is  my  sincere  desire  to  be  '  at  peace  with  all  men,'  and 
much  more  intent  on  strengthening  my  assurance  of  an  interest 
in  the  Saviour's  love,  and  living  from  day  to  day  in  the  pleasing 
contemplation  of  the  enjoyment,  ere  long,  of  his  presence  in 
glory,  than  on  mingling  in  the  '  strifes  of  words,'  in  which  some 
appear  so  keenly  to  delight.  The  principles  with  which  I  set 
out  in  my  ministry,  arp  those  which  I  still  cherish  ;  and  fully 
believing  them  to  be  scriptural  and  true,  I  hope  to  carry  them 
with  me  to  the  grave.  But  even  for  them  I  will  not  angrily, 
though  I  will  '  earnestly  contend,'  as  for  '  the  faith  once  deliv- 

Mem.  HUnor.  33 


514  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ered  to  the  saints.'  I  do  heartily  wish  to  adopt  into  my  daily 
experience  the  feelings  intimated  in  the  latter  part  of  your  letter ; 
and  pray  God  that  his  Holy  Spirit  may  enable  me  to  be  like- 
minded  with  one  whose  labors  he  has  so  eminently  blessed,  and 
whose  exaltation  to  a  high  rank  he  will,  I  trust,  make  the 
means  of  enlarged  usefulness  to  his  Church. 

"  Your  externalism,  I  am  persuaded,  will  never  be  allowed 
to  usurp  the  place  of  spiritual  affections  and  ardent  devotion  to 
Grod,  love  to  his  children  of  every  name,  and  a  supreme  regard 
to  the  doctrines  of  the  cross.  '  O  si  sic  omnes.^  But  alas, 
with  us,  formalism,  a  love  for  externalism,  which  destroys  every 
feeling  of  vital  piety,  a  dislike  of  those  who  place  inward  religion 
above  outward  show,  and  an  apparently  positive  repugnance  to 
.those  who  do  not  walk  with  us,  are  such  offensive  features  in  the 
character  of  many,  that  I  am  compelled,  in  view  of  the  disas- 
trous consequences,  to  cling  to  my  old  preferences,  and  most 
sedulously  to  avoid  those  evils  which  are  prostrating,  in  so  many 
souls,  every  thing  most  dear  to  the  hearts  of  evangelical  Chris- 
tians. 

"  With  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Mcllvaine,  and  all  the  dear  chil- 
dren, and  my  earnest  prayers  for  your  personal  happiness  and 
official  success,  I  remain, 

"  Respectfully  and  affectionately,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

If  it  be  inferred  from  the  foregoing  letter,  that  the  elements 
of  movement  in  our  church,  were  beginning  to  exhibit  strong 
•symptoms  of  excitement,  the  influence  will  not  be  at  all  weak- 
ened by  that  which  follows  to  another  correspondent. 

"  New  York,  April  6,  1837. 
"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother-— The  letter  to  which  this  is  to  be 
an  answer,  is  dated  two  months  ago ;  and  the  delay  is  at  least 
prima  facie  evidence,  how  undeserving  I  am  of  the  compliment 
which  you  were  kind  enough  to  pay  me — ironically  it  either  was 
or  ought  to  have  been — of  a  comparison  with  a  late  venerable 
father  in  the  church,"  [John  Newton,]  "  whose  published  letters 
will  be  a  memorial  of  his  talents,  piety,  and  friendship,  to  the 
lat^est  generations.  -  And  yet,  though  I  claim  not  the  least  merit 


HIS  MINISTRY.  515 

as  a  letter-writer,  I  confess  there  are  to  me  few  moments  more 
agreeable  than  those  which  I  can  abstract  from  the  continual 
routine  of  parochial  duty  and  too  many  collateral  engagements, 
and  give  to  familiar  and  sacred  converse  with  an  endeared 
brother  in  the  Lord.  Such,  you  know,  I  have  ever  esteemed  you ; 
and  therefore,  though  I  have  not  now  manifested  a  promptitude 
that  affords  any  confirmation  of  the  fact,  yet  it  is  not  the  less 
true,  that  I  love  to  receive  and  answer  your  Letters ;  and  that  it 
was  more  than  ordinarily  pleasant,  after  so  long  an  interval,  to 
have  such  an  one  as  you  were  so  good  as  to  make  your  favor  of 
the  7th  of  February. 

"While  'the  faithful  are  minishing  from  among  the  children 
of  men,'  it  is  consoling  to  think,  that  we  are  not  necessitated  to 
say  with  the  Psalmist,  'there  is  not  one  godly  man  left;'  but  on 
the  contrary,  may  rejoice,  that  in  the  rriidst  of  ultra  high-church 
views,  combined  with  an  increase  of  formalism,  uncharitableness, 
and  opposition,  in  high  places,  to  some  of  the  most  precious  doc- 
trines of  our  holy  religion,  there  is  a  goodly  number  who  will 
bow  the  knee  to  no  idol,  and  are  determined,  God  being  their 
helper,  to  serve  Him  alone,  in  sincerity  and  truth.     The  attitude 

which  the has  assumed,  is  offensive  in  the  extreme,  and  it 

has,  in  consequence,  lost  many  subscribers ;  but  this  has  only 
served  to  stimulate  the  zeal  of  those,  to  whom  its  antievangelical 
spirit  is  agreeable,  to  new  efforts  in  its  support;  so  that  on  the 
whole,  it  proudly  boasts  an  increase  of  patronage.  Its  editor, 
however,  is  thought,  by  many  of  his  quondam  friends,  to  over- 
shoot the  mark  ;  and  it  was  counsel  amounting  to  little  short  of 
command,  that  stopped  his  unexampled  abuse  of  Dr.  Tyng,  and 
of  all  like-minded  members  of  the  church.  Next  Saturday,  we 
understand,  he  is  to  come  out  with  a  powerful  support  of  the 
Romanizing  doctrine  of  '  progressive  justification.'  God  grant 
that  these  movements  may  lead  us  all  to  the  consideration  of  our 
own  ways,  and  make  us  more  faithful  in  preaching  up  the  great 
doctrines  of  the  cross,  and  in  preaching  down  the  false  substi- 
tutes, with  which,  in  association  with  ultra  church  views,  so 
many  are  endeavoring  to  supersede  them.  Here  is  a  point,  in 
regard  to  which,  among  truly  converted  ministers,  there  will 
never,  I  trust,  be  any  difference  of  opinion  or  of  conduct. 


516  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

"  But  there  are  suggestions  in  your  letter  of  high  import, 
and  calling  for  much  prayer  and  deep  reflection,  on  which  the 
opinions  of  good  men  and  true  may  perhaps  differ.  For  instance, 
I  cannot  entirely  agree  with  your  views  of  the  consequences  of 
the  measures  adopted  at  the  last  General  Convention.  In  regard 
to  the  action  itself  of  that  body  in  the  matter  of  missions,  I  can 
see  no  reason  for  regret.  It  still  appears  to  me  the  appropriate 
concern  and  bounden  duty  of  the  church  through  its  regular 
organization,  and  ought  not  to  be  devolved,  but  on  the  default  of 
the  church,  on  mere  voluntary  associations.  Look  at  the  prac- 
tical effect  of  our  refusal  to  cooperate  in  the  plan  adopted.  The 
church,  by  its  ultra  majority,  would  have  adopted  some  such 
plan  as  that  now  in  operation,  perhaps  with  some  distasteful 
appendages,  which  our  influence  has  prevented.  In  that  case, 
where  would  have  been  the  foreign  mission  cause,  confided  exclu- 
sively to  such  hands  ?  Not  immediately  laid  aside,  but  so  inade- 
quately sustained  as  to  cease  to  be  an  object  of  interest,  and  per- 
haps after  a  time  utterly  abandpned ;  whereas,  under  the  existing 
organizationj  its  management  is  confided,  almost  exclusively,  to 
its  warm  friends,  and  through  their  agency  has  drawn  forth  an 
unprecedented  accession  of  funds.  Opposition  direct  has  been 
almost  entirely  muzzled,  and  so  much  as  has  shown  itself,  is  pro- 
nounced by  many  so-called  high-churchmen,  unwarranted  oppo- 
sition to  the  authority  of  the  church  by  which  foreign  miss,ions 
have  been  sanctioned. 

"  But,  you  will  say,  this  matter  would  have  prospered  better 
in  the  hands  of  voluntary  associations.  I  doubt  this.  The  party 
aspect  which,  under  such  an  arrangement,  foreign  missions  would 
have  assumed,  would  have  caused  the  great  body  of  high-church- 
men to  stand  aloof,  if  not  violently  to  oppose  them ;  whereas, 
under  the  present  system,  I  know  of  many  converts  to  the  cause, 
and  of  some  liberal  donations  from  quarters  where  nothing  of 
the  kind  could  have  been  expected,  had  not  this  system  been 
adopted.  Besides,  there  would  have  been  great  difficulties  from 
our  bishops,  who,  in  many  cases,  would  have  been  very  likely 
to  interpose  their  canonical  authority  to  prevent  the  sending  of 
missionaries  from  their  different  dioceses,'  and  to  obstruct  col- 
lections within  them  for  foreign  missions.     Even,  however,  if  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  517 

voluntary  system  were,  in  itself,  indisputably  preferable,  yet,  as 
we  are  now  circumstanced,  the  error  of  having  adopted  a  differ- 
ent system  could  not,  in  my  opinion,  be  repaired,  without  greater 
evils  than  those  incident  to  the  one  under  which  we  are  now 
placed. 

. "  You  must  not,  however,  infer  from  any  thing  that  I  have 
said,  that  I  am  an  advocate  of  all  the  rant  on  this  subject,  which 

has,  for  a  time,  filled  the  editorial  columns  of  the ,  and  figured 

on  the  pages  of  the  author  of  'Protestant  Jesuitism.'  In  the 
missionary  work,  much  voluntary  agency  is  still  required ;  and 
there  are  many  other  matters,  in  which  I  should  be  sorry  to  be 
manacled  with  the  bands  which  some  in  authority  would  fain 
impose.  It  is  true,  that  from  the  beginning,  I  have  acted  as  a 
trustee  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  :  aided,  however,  by 
other  brethren,  I  am  persuaded  I  have  been  able  to  exercise,  not 
a  controlling,  but  a  restraining  influence  on  many  of  its  proceed- 
ings. By  intercourse  with  the  students,  which  would  have  been 
far  less  influential  had  I  stood  in  the  attitude  either  of  opposition 
or  of  indifference  to  that  institution,  I  have  been  able  to  give 
much  individual  encouragement  to  their  adoption  of  moderate 
church  principles  and  evangelical  doctrines,  and  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  habits  of  personal  piety  ;  and  experience  in  this,  as  well 
as  in  some  other  departments,  has  convinced  me,  that  so  far  as 
we  can,  without  a  compromise  of  principle,  it  is  best  to  act  with 
our  brethren  of  the  other  school.  The  effect  has  been,  thus  far,  I 
believe,  beneficial. 

"  But  if,  under  the  influence  of  any,  measures  should  be 
adopted  which  would  drive  us  to  the  necessity  of  either  sacrificing 
our  views  of  duty,  or  entirely  seceding  from  them  "■ — he  means, 
evidently,  from  them,  as  a  party,  and  not  from  the  church,  of 
which  they  are  a  part — "  I  shall  have  no  hesitation  in  adopting 
the  latter  course.  With  our  representations  of  divine  truth  in 
the  pulpit,  in  intercourse  with  our  people,  and  in  the  conduct  of 
the  religious  press  so  far  as  it  is  in  our  hands,  they  cannot,  unless 
through  our  own  fault,  presume  to  interfere ;  or,  if  they  do, 
should  be  met  with  firm  resistance.  Practices  in  our  pastoral 
rel6,tions,  which  they  professedly  disapprove,  and  openly  censure, 
80  long  as  our  own  consciences  justify  us  in  their  continuance,  I 


518  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

hope  none  of  us  will  abandon.  So  that,  whatever  union  there 
may  be  in  some  measures  more  obviously  requiring  the  authori- 
tative sanction  and  support  of  the  church,  there  will,  until  a 
mighty  revolution  shall  have  taken  place  in  the  minds  of  high- 
churchmen,  be  many  obvious  differences  between  them  and  us. 
Concession  from  our  side  must  have  its  limits,  and  the  time  may 
come,  when  we  shall  be  compelled  to  a  wider  separation  than 
now  exists.  It  is  not,  however,  desirable.  '  If  it  be  possible,'' 
let  peace  be  preserved.  If  faithfulness  to  the  cause  of  Christ, 
and  the  souls  of  our  fellow-men,  oblige  us  to  disapprove  the 
course  of  our  brethren,  let  it  be  done  in  moderation,  in  the  tem- 
per of  the  meek  and  lowly  Saviour,  and  in  the  spirit  of  his  Gos- 
pel of  love. 

"  I  had,  some  time  since,  a  long  conversation  with  the  editor 

of 'the ,  in  which  I  expressed  to  him  my  mind  very  frankly 

and  fully.  I  have  done  the  same  to  the  bishop,  and  to  several  of 
the  same  class ;  and  although  the  character  and  design  of  that 
paper  remains,  and  probably  will  remain  unaltered,  yet  the 
editor  was  induced  to  assume  the  more  quiet  and  uncontroversial 
tone  which  has  marked  his  course  for  the  last  month.  Still,  his 
influence  is  bad,  especially  on  the  minds  of  the  students  in  the 
seminary;  and  I  hope  his  paper  will  be  given  up  by  all  the  friends 
of  evangelical  religion. 

"  I  have  thrown  out  these  thoughts  in  a  very  desultory  and 
hasty  manner.  Give  them  as  much  weight  as  you  think  they 
deserve,  and  let  me  know  with  distinctness  what  you  would 
wish  done  in  the  actual  state  of  things,  and  of  the  prospect 
before  us.  - 

"  With  great  affection, 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ,  * 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

In  this  letter  are  some  permanently  important  truths ;  and 
some  things  that  were  true,  as  well  as  important,  in  connection 
with  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  written.  But 
change  of  circumstances  has  forced  us  to  view  some  of  the  latter 
in  a  different  light.  It  has  now  become  very  evident,  that  the 
policy  of  putting  our  foreign  missions  under  the  exclusive  direc- 
tion of  their  evangelical  friends,  practically  involved  that  of  put- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  519 

ting  our  domestic  missions  under  the  exclusive  control  of  anti- 
evangelical  patrons ;  and  that  the  working  of  this  division  of  labor 
and  patronage  has  had  the  effect  of  filling  the  great  home  field, 
the  real  supply  field,  more  and  more  widely  with  antievangeli- 
cal  laborers ;  thus  gradually  bringing  on  the  time^  the  full  arrival 
of  which,  unless  speedily  prevented,  cannot  be  far  distant,  when 
our  whole  missionary  work  will  fall  undividedly  under  wrong 
sway,  and  the  foreign,  as  well  as  the  domestic  field,  be  filled  by 
missionaries  of  virtually  another  Gospel,  instead  of  that  which  we 
have  so  long  been  preaching. 

The  next  letter  touching  on  subjects  of  public  importance, 
was  addressed  to  Bishop  Smith.     An  extract  only  is  given. 

"New  York,  April  7,  1837. 
"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Bishop — You  will,  I  am  sure,  prefer 
that  I  should  atone  for  my  long-continued  neglect  of  your  kind 
letters,  by  now  writing  you  a  long  one,  to  my  wasting  time  in 
apologies,  the  character  of  which  your  goodness  and  your  know- 
ledge of  my  daily  occupations  have  already  anticipated.  I  pro- 
ceed, therefore,  to  notice  a  topic  to  which  your  favors  of  last 

winter  require  me  to  advert :  the  report  made  to  you  by  Mr. 

of  our  conversation  about  your  essay  in  '  the  Literary  and  Theo- 
logical Review.'  It  is  more  than  probable,  that  he  has  given  it  an 
unwarrantable  coloring.  Certainly  he  did  so,  if  he  represented 
me  as  expressing  any  thing  more  than  deep  regret  that  you  should 
have  given  publicity  to  sentiments,  in  regard  to  admission  to  the 
Lord's  supper,  which  were  apparently  at  variance  with  the  uni- 
versal practice  of  the  evangelical  clergy  of  our  church,  with 
what  we  had  understood  to  be  your  own,  and  with  what  I  con- 
sidered a  course  of  bounden  duty  on  the  part  of  every  rector  of  a 
church  of  our  communion.  At  that  time,  it  will  be  remembered, 
we  were  without  any  explanation  from  you  of  an  article  of  which 
every  clergyman  of  our  views  had  expressed  strong  disapproba- 
tion ;  which  had  occasioned  severe  animadversions  in  some  pul- 
pits, on  the  inadequacy  and  error  of  views  entertained  by  even  the 
best  portion  of  our  Zion ;  and  which  had  caused  our  high-church- 
men to  exult  at  the  gain  they  had  acquired,  in  an  evangelical 
bishop's  advocacy  of  principles  to  which  they  boasted  of  having 


520  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ever  adhered.  And  now,  my  dear  bishop,  though  I  feel  bound 
gratefully  to  acknowledge  the  frankness  with  which  you  have 
disavowed  the  latitudinarian  views  of  Christian  communion  sup- 
posed to  be  maintained  in  your  essay,  yet  I  am  sure  your  candor 
will  excuse  my  continuing  to  regret  that  it  should  have  exhibited 
the  subject  in  such  a  light  as  to  have  impressed  all,  both  friends 
and  foes,  with  a  like  understanding  of  its  import.  As  the  matter 
now  stands,  the  demand  of  a  reasonable  satisfaction,  on  the  part 
of  every  pastor,  with  the  sufficiency  of  the  religious  qualifications 
expressly  required  by  the  church,  in  all  who  partake  of  the  Lord's 
supper,  I  understand  as  having  your  decided  approval.  This  is 
all  I  desire.  I  would  not  have  the  exercise  of  this  judgment 
placed  in  other  hands.  I  would  not,  even  by  the  proper  officer, 
have  what  I  consider  an  undoubted  right,  in  the  overseer  of  every 
flock,  harshly  or  inquisitorially  used  ;  and  I  would  be  very  care- 
ful that  no  other  terms  of  communion  be  exacted  than  such  as 
are  strictly  authorized  by  the  Gospel  and  the  Church.  Of  the 
duty  of  antecedent  family  and  parochial  instruction,  you  have 
not  spoken  in  terms  too  strong.  Of  its  effect,  under  God's  bless- 
ing, we  ought  to  entertain  much  hope.  And  yet,  facts  but  too 
strongly  prove  that  education,  even  when  best  conducted,  will 
not  always  make  our  children  Christians  ;  and  we  should  beware 
of  trusting  to  any  other  power  than  that  of  God  to  change  their 
hearts  and  qualify  them  for  spiritual  communion  in  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  Church.  I  am  sure  there  can  be  no  essential  dif- 
ference of  views  on  this  subject  among  evangelical  Christians, 
Let  no  means  be  omitted.  Let  a  just  confidence  in  God  accom- 
pany their  use.  But  let  the  final  reference  be  wholly  to  the 
omnipotence  of  his  grace. 

"  It  has  caused  us  great  pain  to  part  with  dear  brother  Jack- 
son." [The  Rev.  William  Jackson,  who  resigned  St.  Stephen's, 
New  York,  and  removed  to  the  parish  in  Louisville,  Ky.]  "  But 
it  is  an  evidence  of  the  desire  of  your  evangelical  brethren  to  aid 
you  in  your  present  conflict,  that  none  of  them  have  used  any 
influence  to  retain  him.  We  rejoice  that  our  loss  is  your  gain, 
and  pray  that  his  emigration  to  the  West  may  be  abundantly 
blessed. 

"  I  have  much  more  to  say,  but  I  am  so  near  the  bottom  of 


HIS  MINISTRY.  521 

my  paper  that  I  can  only  desire  my  affectionate  regards  to  Mrs. 
Smith,  and  assure -you,  that  with  undiminished  affection,  I  am. 
"  Your  faithful  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  next  shows  that,  though  no  longer  secretary  and  gen- 
eral  agent,  he  was  yet  busy  in  our  missionary  affairs  as  an  ordi- 
nary member  of  the  board. 

To  Mrs.  Milnor. 

"Baltimore,  June  12,  1837. 

"My  dear  Ellen— The  session  of  our  Board  of  Missions 
closed  on  Friday  evening,  in  time  for  me  to  make  an  address  at 
the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Bible  Society  of  this  state.  On 
Saturday  I  was  favored  with  a  ride  round  the  precincts  of  the 
city,  which  are  ornamented  with  many  handsome  country-seats. 
Yesterday  I  preached  in  three  different  churches ;  and  to-day,  I 
have  been  prevailed  on  to  remain  for  a  little  repose  before  I  start 
on  my  journey  homeward. 

"  I  have  received  a  message  from  General  Sewell  and  his  lady, 
of  Elkton,  pressing  me  to  pay  them  a  short  visit  on  my  way.  I 
have  not  yet  made  up  my  mind  whether  I  shall  do  so  or  not.  If 
I  should,  I  will  write  you  from  that  place,  and  let  you  know 
what  day  you  may  expect  me  home. 

"Bishop  Mcllvaine  went  to  Washington  on  Saturday.  He 
returns  to-day ;  and  I  will  learn  from  him  when  he  expects  to  be 
in  New  York,  and  regulate  my  movements  by  his,  if  he  intends 
,to  go  to  New  York  this  week.         - 

"  Tell  Mr.  Cooke  I  would  have  written  to  him,  btit  had  noth- 
ing particular  to  communicate.  He  will  be  kind  enough  not  to 
depend  on  me  for  any  service  till  Sunday  next,  when,  God  willing, 
I  will  be  ready  for  any  duty  required.  Give  my  love  to  all  the 
members  of  the  family,  and  believe  me, 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

,  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

About  this  time,  the  fever  of  excitement  in  our  church,  pro- 
duced by  the  development  of  certain  theological  tendencies  in 
our  General  Theological  Seminary,  began  to  run  high.  To  this 
state  of  things  some  passages  in  the  following  letter  refer. 


53Slf  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

.l^ti^.  f}*i  I  >  To   Bishop   Mcllvaine.  f'^-n%,,r.   <    ,•  r- 

"New  York,  June  30,  1838. 

"Right  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — ^When  I  received  your  favor  of 
the  21st  instant,  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  General  Theological 
Seminary  were  iur  session,  and  had  already  passed  upon  the  ques- 
tion, whether  they  would  appoint  to  the  temporary  occupation 
of  the  two  vacant  professorships — Evidences  and  Pastoral  The- 
ology-—or,  as  heretofore,  refer  the  business  to  the  standing  com- 
mittee. The  determination  of  the  question  was  in  favor  of  the 
reference ;  and  of  course,  not  a  word  was  said  about  the  present 
incumbents.  In  this  state  of  things,  I  thought  it  would  be  best 
not  to  lay  your  communication  before  the  board,  but  reserve  it 
for  the  standing  committee,  provided  you  deem  it  expedient,  and 
will  authorize  me  either  to  alter  the  direction,  or  to  submit  it  as 
it  is,  after  stating  the  reason  above-mentioned  for  its  not  having 
been  submitted  to  the  board. 

"  Dr. 's  extraordinary  course  is  a  subject  of  general 

conversation,  and — so  far  as  I  have  conversed  with  our  clerical 
brethren,  without  distinction  of  party — of  pretty  general  con- 
demnation. A  few  either  justify  his  views,  or  give  them  such  a 
gloss  as  to  lessen  their  apparent  heterodoxy. 

"  I  have  spent  three  days  with  the  committee  of  examination 
for  the  seminary ;  the  result  of  which  has  been  satisfactory. 
About  twenty  received  testimonials.  The  dissertations  read  at 
the  commencement  yesterday,  were  all  respectable,  and  some  of 
them  excellent;  no  'progressive  justification'  or  Universalism 
being  apparent.    Every  student  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  has 

expressed  decided  opposition  to  the  views  of  Dr. .     A  very 

few,  I  understand,  are  his  advocates.  I  sincerely  hope,  that  the 
injury  which  he  may  do  them,  will  be  prevented  by  the  refusal  of 
the  standing  committee  to  reappoint  him. 

"  Last  week  I  attended  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  missions, 
at  Boston.  It  was  not  so  large  as  could  have  been  wished,  but 
was  conducted  in  a  good  spirit,  and  with  perfect  harmony.  The 
Massachusetts  convention  was  contemporaneously  in  session,  and 
with  great  unanimity,  elected  Dr.  Potter  assistant  bishop  in  that 
state.  He  is  unhappily  absent  in  Europe  ;  and  I  fear  no  answer 
wiU  be  returned  by  him  in  time  for  his  consecration  at  the 


HIS  MINISTRY.  523 

approaching  General  Convention,  should  he  accept  the  appoint- 
ment, of  which  great  doubts  are  entertained.  You  have  heard 
of  Dr.  Eastburn's  '■Nolo^  to  Maryland.  Dr.  Johns,  who  preached 
our  mission  sermon  at  Boston,  tells  me  that  he  thirties  another 
effort  will  be  made,  at  a  special  convention,  to  elect  a  clergyman 
resident  in  the  diocese" — as  bishop  of  our  church  in  Maryland — 
"but  if  that  should  fail,  he  thinks  Dr.  Hawks  will  probably  be 
elected. 

"  My  assistant  has  become  disabled  for  duty,  by  a  rush  of 
blood  to  the  head ;  so  that  I  expect  to  have  the  whole  charge  of 
pulpit  and  parochial  duty,  for  the  remainder  of  the  summer. 
"  Yours,  most  truly, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
To  Hubert  Van  Wagenen,  Esq.,*  Poughkeepsie. 

•  ,  J'New  York,  Aug.  16,  1838. 

'  "  Dear  Sir — I  regretted  that  a  preengagement  for  next 
Sunday  obliged  me  to  decline  the  Rev,  Mr.  Hatch's  invitation  to 
assist  him  in  his  duties  on  that  day ;  particularly  as  I  have  been 
desirous  of  paying  you  a  visit  ever  since  the  lamentable  eventj  by 
which  you  and  Mrs.  Van  Wagenen  have  been  so  unexpectedly 
and  heavily  afflicted.  I  was,  however,  rejoiced  to  learn  from 
Mrs.  Maynard,  that  your  dear  partner  was  favored  with  more  of 
a  spirit  of  resignation  than,  under  such  a  bereavement,  could  have 
been  expected ;  and  that  the  Lord  has  enabled  you  also  to  bear 
your  loss  with  a  good  degree  of  acquiescence  in  this  unlooked-for 
providence. 

"Poor  Sarah  must  have  been  deeply  distressed;  but,  in  com- 
mon with  her  beloved  parents,  has,  I  trust,  realized  in  the  event 
an  occasion  of  renewed  gratitude  to  God  for  the  blessing  of  an 
experimental  acquaintance  with  our  blessed  religion,  which  teaches 
us,  that  'whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,'  and  that,  'though 
no  chastening  for  the  present  be  joyous,  but  grievous ;  neverthe- 
less, afterward  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness 
unto  them  which  are  exercised  thereby.' 
"With  kindest  regards, 

"Affectionately  and  truly  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

•'  Formerly  one  of  the  wardens  of  St.  George's. 


524  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

To  Mrs.  Milnor. 

"Philadelphia,  September  9,  1838.  • 

"My  dear  Ellen — On  the  principle  that  no  news  is  good 
news,  I  prdlume  you  will  take  it  for  granted  that  all  has  been 
well  with  me  since  I  left  home.  "We  have  a  full  convention,  all 
the  bishops  being  now  present.  At  the  opening  of  the  convention, 
we  had  an  excellent  sermon  from  Bishop  Meade;  on  Thursday 
evening,  an  interesting  discourse  from  Bishop  Otey,  at  St.  Ste- 
phen's, before  the  Board  of  Missions ;  and  on  Friday  evening,  a 
missionary  meeting  at  St.  Andrew's,  at  which  six  of  the  bishops 
made  addresses. 

"  The  convention  sit  every  day  from  nine  till  three,  and  at 
five  the  Board  of  Missions  hold  their  sittings;  so  that,  with  meet- 
ings of  important  committees  as  they  can  find  opportunity,  our 
time  is  fully  occupied;  and,  with  long  walks;  occasioned  by  the 
distance  of  my  residence  from  the  place  of  meeting,  I  go  to  bed 
every  night  thoroughly  fatigued. 

"Pl6ase  tell  Mr.  Cooke,  that  the  business  of  dividing  our  dio- 
cese  has  gone  on  well.  The  amendments  to  the  constitution, 
authorizing  that  measure,  have  passed  with  great  unanimity; 
and  Bishop  Onderdonk  will,  I  presume,  leave  this  city  on  Tues- 
day morning,  in  order  to  be  present  at  the  special  convention 
which  is  to  sit  in  New  York  at  five  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
that  day.  He  will  immediately  return,  with  their  final  action 
on  the  subject;  when  the  ratification  by  the  General  Convention 
will  take  place,  and  all  will  be  complete.  Believe  me 
"Your  affectionate  husband, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Almost  a  year  intervenes  between  the  date  of  this  letter  and 
the  next — the  time  being  spent  in  his  usually  numerous  engage- 
ments; but  no  letters  of  importance  having  survived  to  mark 
any  special  incidents  on  its  passage.  The  summer  vacation  of 
1839  Dr.  Milnor  spent  on  a  tour  with  Bishop  Meade  to  Niagara 
and  through  the  Canadas.  The  next  letter  marks  a  portion  of 
their  progress. 

"  Schenectady,  Friday,  August  9,  1839. 

"My  dear  Ellen — ^I  drop  you  a  line,  just  to  give  you  an  ac-  • 
count  of  our  progress  thus  far.     We  had  a  delightful  passage  up 


HIS  MINISTRY.  525 

the  river  to  Albany ;  and,  on  our  arrival,  concluded  to  proceed 
immediately  to  Troy,  the  ovv^ners  of  the  boat  sending  us  and 
others  thither  in  a  small  steamer  free  of  expense.  After  tea  at 
Troy,  we  walked,  under  the  guidance  of  a  Mr.  Cannon,  who  in- 
troduced himself  to  me  as  an  old  parishioner,  to  Mr.  Walker's 
institute  for  boys,  which  Bishop  Meade  was  desirous  of  seeing. 
There  we  spent  the  evening,  attending  the  chapel  worship  of  the 
school,  and  then  went  back  to  our  inn  in  the  town.  In  the  morn- 
ing we  saw  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  the  place,  visited  Judge  Buel 
and  Mrs.  Willard's  seminary,  and  about  eleven  o'clock  went  back 
by  coach  to  Albany ;  where  we  dined,  and  left  for  this  place  at 
half-past  two  o'clock,  P.  M^  Here  we  visited  the  Episcopal  church, 
took  a  general  survey  of  the  place,  went  to  Union  college  and 
drank  tea  with  Professor  Potter,  walked  through  the  beautiful 
gardens  of  the  college,  and  then  returned ;  Dr.  Potter  accompany- 
ing us  to  our  lodgings.  We  also  saw  Dr.  Nott,  and  Mr.  Walter, 
rector  of  the  parish. 

"  This  morning  we  intend  to  proceed,  at  half  past  nine,  in  the 
cars  for  the  west,  expecting  to  sleep  to-night  at  Auburn.  I  never 
felt  better  in  my  life,  and  anticipate  a  pleasant  day  in  passing 
up  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk. 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

To  the  same. 

"  Steamer  United  States,  Aug.  13,  1839. 
*"My  dear  Ellen — I  write  in  the  cabin  of  the  steamer  in 
which  we  left  Lewiston  about  five  o'clock  this  afternoon,  bound 
down  lake  Ontario  to  Ogdensburg,  whence  we  propose  to  cross 
into  Canada  and  visit  Montreal,  and  probably  Quebec.  We  have 
prosecuted  our  journey  by  every  species  of  conveyance — steam- 
boats, railroads,  canals,  and  coaches — and  have  met  with  no 
unpleasant  circumstances  on  our  way.  Except  a  little  rain  oil 
Sunday,  the  weather  has  been  clear  and  pleasant,  though  uncom- 
monly cool  for  the  season.  After  leaving  Schenectady,  we  passed 
through  Utica  and  Syracuse,  and  spent  our  Sunday  in  Rochester, 
where  Bishop  Meade  preached  three  times,  and  I  twice,  in  the 
two  beautiful  churches  of  that  delightful  city.     Rochester  far 


526  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

exceeds  my  anticipations,  both  in  elegance  and  extent.  Yester- 
day we  proceeded  by  railroad  to  Batavia,  and  thence  in  post- 
coaches  to  Buffalo.  After  breakfast  to-day  we  proceeded,  by  the 
cars,  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  and  spent  several  hours — not  so 
long  as  we  could  have  wished — in  surveying  those  stupendous 
cataracts.  In  viewing  them,  Bishop  Meade  anticipated  disap- 
pointment, but  found  them  far  exceeding  his  expectations.  We 
were  compelled  reluctantly  to  leave  them,  at  half  past  two,  for 
Lewiston,  in  order  to  secure  our  passage  this  evening  down  the 
lake.  Our  expectation  is  to  be  in  Quebec  on  Sunday,  and  on  the 
next  day  to  return  to  Montreal,  taking  lake  George  and  Bur- 
lington, Vt.,  on  our  homeward  way.  As  the  bishop  wishes  to 
spend  a  day  or  two  at  Burlington  with  Bishop  Hopkins,  and  one 
day  at  Saratoga  Springs,  and  also  to  stop  at  Poughkeepsie,  to 
see  Mr.  Bartlett's  school,  I  begin  very  much  to  doubt  whether  it 
will  be  practicable  for  me  to  reach  New  York  by  Saturday  week  ; 
but  should  I  not,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Haight  was  kind  enough  to  say 
he  would  endeavor  to  see  our  church  supplied.  I  will,  however, 
write  you  again  on  this  subject,  when  I  can  more  exactly  ascer- 
tain how  we  shall  stand  for  time. 

"Your  faithful  and  affectionate 
;  .  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

If,  however,  he  wrote  again  during  his  absence,  his  letter  is 
lost,  and  the  above  is  all  we  know  of  this  summer's  northern 
tour.  Through  what  part  of  the  Canadas  the  two  friends  passed 
during  this  interesting  excursion,  or  whether  they  visited  any 
part  of  those  provinces  but  the  cities  of  Quebec  and  Montreal,  we 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  Indeed,  it  is  much  to  be  regret- 
ted that  Dr.  Milnor  either  kept  no  journal  or  has  preserved  none ; 
for  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  he  formed  many  new  and  interest- 
ing acquaintances,  and  met  with  many  new  and  interesting  in- 
cidents, in  the  course  of  his  journey ;  or  that,  if  we  had  but  some 
of  the  sweet  communings  of  the  two  friends  by  the  way,  they 
would  make  a  pleasant  and  a  profitable  chapter  in  the  present 
memoir. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  527 

SECTION   IV. 

The  northern  tour,  noticed  at  the  close  of  the  last  section, 
possibly  led  to  a  subsequent  passage  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Milnor, 
which,  like  hundreds  of  others,  if  they  could  be  gathered  up, 
tends  to  show  that  he  was  not  always  the  man  of  business,  in 
religion ;  not  always  in  missionary  agencies  and  on  missionary 
tours ;  not  always  at  meetings  of  conventions  and  missionary 
boards ;  not  always  the  watchful  trustee  of  the  seminary,  and 
the  critical  observer  of  theological  developments :  that  these 
were,  in  fact,  but  the  occupations  of  his  spare  time — the  occa- 
sionally stirring  incidents  which  drew  him  out  in  those  letters 
most  easily  preserved  and  recovered ;  and  that  under  and  be- 
tween these  more  public  movements  and  actions  ran  the  great 
stream  of  his  life,  in  quiet,  regular,  unnoticed  labors ;  in  doing 
good  to  his  flock  and  good  to  every  body,  as  God  gave  him  oppor- 
tunity. The  passage  in  his  life  to  which  these  remarks  refer,  was 
as  follows. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  his  northern  tour,  he  received  from 
the  Rev.  Mr.  F ,  of  C ,  Upper  Canada,  a  brief  note,  intro- 
ducing to  him  a  young  man,  the  only  child  of  a  pious  officer  in 
the  British  army,  who  proposed  to  devote  himself  in  New  York 
to  literary  pursuits.  The  previous  history  of  the  young  man 
may  be  judged  by  extracts  from  a  letter  which  immediately  fol- 
lowed the  note  of  introduction.  ,  - 

To  the  Rev.   Dr.   Milnor. 

"  C ,  Upper  Canada,  Oct.  29,  1839. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  took  the  liberty,  last  week,  of  giving 
to  a  young  man  leaving  this  for  New  York,  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  you.  I  did  so  because  I  felt  I  should  be  excused,  if  by 
taking  that  liberty  I  could,  iri  any  degree,  alleviate  the  feelings 
of  almost  heart-broken  friends,  and  give  to  the  poor,  self-exiled, 
and  unhappy  youth  one  to  whom,  in  an  hour  of  repentance,  he 
might  look  for  that  advice  and  godly  counsel,  which  your  years, 
experience,  and  standing  in  the  religious  world,  would  enable  you 
to  give  with  so  much  effect. 


528  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOE. 

"  But  in  order  that  you  may  know  how  to  deal  with  this 
poor  prodigal,  I  feel  that  it  is  my  duty  to  make  known  some 
particulars  of  his  history.  His  parents  and  aunt  are  truly  pious. 
He  is  an  only  child.     His  father  has  been  in  the  British  army,, 

and  now  commands  the  regiment  on  active  service  hfere. 

He  is  possessed  of  a  small  private  fortune,  amply  sufficient  for 
a  private  gentleman  in  this  country.  This  youth  has  been  a 
child  of  many  prayers,  which,  alas,  appear  as  yet  to  have  been 
unheard.  Being  delicate  from  his  childhood,  he  has  been  watched 
with  almost  more  than  a  mother's  fondest  solicitude,  yet  I  be- 
lieve, guided  by  that  judgment  which  a  knowledge  of  their  own 
state  by  nature  could  not  but  give  the  parents.  I  think  I  may 
safely  say,  he  has  not  been  '  a  spoiled  child.' 

"  He  was  educated  in  his  father's  house,  under  the  eye  of  his . 
parents.  Every  pains  was  taken  with  him  that  you  would 
expect  from  such  parents  with  an  only  child.  Unfortunately, 
about  six  years  ago,  a  young  man  was  recommended  to  them  as  • 
tutor  to  their  son,  whb  afterwards  proved  a  worthless  character. 
From  him,  I  fear,  he  received  those  seeds  which  have  since  pro- 
duced a  most  plentiful  harvest  of  sorrow  and  woe.  Though  his 
parents  had  some  slight  fears  regarding  him,  yet  they  did  not  in 
the  least  dream  of  the  lengths  to  which  he  has  since  shown  him- 
self capable  of  going.  Nothing  appears  to  have  been  too  bad 
for  him. 

"  He  has  abilities,  and  imagines  he  can  succeed  as  an  author. 
AVhen  he  returned  from  Buffalo,"  whither  he  had  fled  from  mil- 
itary duty,  "  he  told  his  friends  he  could  shift  for  hims6lf ;  and 
they  have  now  allowed  him  to  look  to  a  cold,  unfeeling  world 
for  support.  Tn  all  money  transactions  he  has  been  most  correct 
and  honorable  ;  but  he  loves  lo\y  company,  and  in  such  company 
he  will  exceed. 

"  Such  is  the  unhappy  youth  of  whom  Satan  has  possessed 
himself.  Not  a  lad  in  the  province  had  fairer  prospects,  a  more 
comfortable  home,  or  kinder  and  better  parents.  But  0,  mys- 
terious ways  of  Providence,  he  has  given  himself  up  to  the 
charms  of  his  implacable  enemy,  and  sold  himself,  as  it  were, 
'  to  feed  swine.'  That,  like  the  Prodigal,  he  may  tire  of  the 
husks  which  he  will  soon  have  to  eat,  and  that  God  may  bless 


HIS  MINISTRY.  529 

you  in  all  your  *  labors  of  love,'  is  the  prayer  of  his  devoted,  but 
now  afflicted  friends,  and  of 
"  Rev.  and  dear  sir, 

"  Your  much  indebted  and  faithful  servant, 

"T.  B.  F." 

Early  in  January,  1840,  Dr.  Milnor  received  a  second  letter 
from  the  same  gentleman,  intimating  that  the  mother  of  the 
young  man  had  become  extremely  anxious  on  his  account ;  and 
that,  though  the  parents  did  not  expect  Dr.  Milnor  to  receive  the 
prodigal  into  his  house,  yet  they  did  beseech  him,  as  a  minister' 
of  Christ,  to  seek  him  out,  take  him  by  the  hand,  be  a  Christian' 
friend  to  him,  and  write  to  the  parents  as  soon  as  be  could  make 
it  convenient. 

Dr.  Milnor  soon  had  an  interview  with  the  youth ;  found  him 
penniless,  and  willing,  if  enabled,  to  return  to  his  parents ;  and 
accordingly,  after  becoming  responsible  for  his  support  for  some 
weeks,  communicated  his  proceedings  to  the  father,  and,  in  a 
letter  not  recovered,  but  dated  January  24, 1840,  advised  him  to 
permit  and  provide  for  his  son's  return.  The  reply  which  ho 
received  was  characteristic  of  a  pious  British  officer,  whose  heart 
was  full  of  kindness,  but  whose  habits  had  taught  feeling  to  be 
silent  in  the  presence  of  judgment.  It  was  sternly  just,  and 
martially  inexorable.     The  following  are  extracts. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor. 

"  C ,  Upper  Canada,  4th  Feb.  1840.     . 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  beg  leave  to  thank  you,  most  sincerely,^ 
for  your  truly  kind  and  Christian  letter  of  the  24th  ult.,  and  for  the 
interest  which  you  have  manifested  in  the  affairs  of  my  unhappy 
child.  The  same  mail  brought  a  letter  from  him,  also,  to  his  poor 
heart-broken  mother,  written  after  a  silence  of  many  weeks. 

"  In  this  letter  it  is  evident,  that  he  is  still  far  from  desiring 
to  procure  a  livelihood  by  any  more  rational  or  reputable  means 
than  those  which  he  was  bent  upon  pursuing  when  he  left  home. 
He  has  been  in  company  with  play-actors  and  leaders  of  orches- 
tras, and  has  even  so  far  degraded  himself  as  to  appear  as  a  hired 
actor  at  one  of  the  theatres,  though,  providentially,  he  received 
nothing  for  his  services. 

Mem.  Milnor.  34 


^^_.  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.    ,  r 

t..--  "I  declare  to  you,  my  dear  sir,  that  nothing  would  give  greater 
pleasure  to  my  heart,  than  to  receive  back  my  prodigal,  if  assured 
that  he  were  at  the  same  time  my  repentant  son.  "Were  it  God's 
will,  I  would  with  pleasure  lay  down  my  life,  could  my  doing  so 
he  serviceable  to  his  soul's  welfare  ;  but  I  will  contribute  nothing 
towards  maintaining  him  in  his  present  evil  courses.  I  therefore 
most  earnestly,  and  at  the  same  time  ^ost  respectfully  request 
that  you  will  not  again  become  liable  for  any  of  his  debts.  If  he 
could  procure  employment  by  which  he  would  be  merely  fed  and 
housed,  it  would  be  the  best  thing  for  him  under  present  circum- 
stances. By  a  long  continuance  in  such  a  situation,  and  perse- 
verance in  good  conduct,  furnishing  evidence  pf  an  inclination  to 
abandon  his  present  worthless  companions  and  his  wild,  imprac- 
ticable schemes,  he  would  find  that,  so  far  as  my  means  would 
allow,  he  should  want  no  sum  requisite  to  establish  him  in  life. 

"  I  should  consider  it  a  favor,  additional  to  those  already  con- 
ferred, if  you  would  again  seek  him  out,  convey  to  him  the  sub- 
stance of  what  I  have  stated,  and  let  him  understand,  that  with 
his  present  views,  he  can  expect  no  assistance  from  me.  "When- 
ever I  become  convinced  that  he  is  endeavoring  to  seek  pardon 
from,  and  reconciliation  to  the  Saviour,  whose  mercies  he  has  so 
despised,  my  arms,  my  heart,  and  my  house,  will  be  open  to 
receive  him,  and  all — all  shall  be  forgotten, 

"  I  beg  your  prayers  in  his  behalf  at  the  throne  of  grace  ;  and 
assuring  you  of  my  grateful  sense  of  your  kindness,  I  remain, 
dear  sir, 

"Most  faithfully  and  respectfully,  yours. 


"New  York,  Feb.  24,  1840. 
"  Dear  Sir — ^Your  letter  of  the  4th  inst.  I  have  duly  received, 
and  made  known  its  contents  to  your  unfortunate  son.  He  was 
evidently  deeply  affected;  but  neither  then,  nor  at  any  other 
time,  has  he  uttered  a  reproach  against  any  but  himself.  He 
blames  no  one  for  the  abject  situation  into  which  he  confesses  his 
own  disobedience  and  folly  have  brought  him.  As  his  lodgings 
are  in  a  part  of  the  city  distant  from  my  residence,  and  in  his 
few  calls  upon  me,  your  son  had  not  mentioned  his  appearance 
upon  the  stage,  I  knew  it  not  until  I  received  your  letter.     His 


HIS  ministry:  531 

account  of  it  is,  that  a  person  connected  with  a  theatre  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  a  boarder  in  the  same  house  with  him,  sug- 
gested the  idea  of  his  seeking  some  relief  from  his  utter  destitu- 
tion by  recourse  to  this  as  an  immediate  means  ;  that  his  poverty, 
not  his  will,  consented ;  that  it  resulted,  as  you  were  informed, 
in  his  obtaining  no  remuneration ;  and  that  every  thing  about 
the  theatre  so  disgusted  him,  that  he  has  not  since  had,  nor  ever 
will  have,  any  further  connection  with  it.  At  the  same  time  he 
declares,  that  he  avoided,  as  far  as  practicable,  intercourse  with 
the  actors ;  and  has  since  had  with  them  none  whatever. 

"  At  his  second  boarding-house  he  remained  seven  weeks 
without  being  able  to  pay  his  board.  To  protect  him  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  to  give  him  an  appearance  that 
would  allow  of  his  remaining  in  any  decent  lodgings,  I  paid  his 
landlady  $21  for  the  redemption  of  his  trunk,  clothes,  and  writ- 
ing-desk. The  person  with  whom  he  now  boards,  is  a  poor  but 
respectable  woman.  I  have  paid  her  his  board  for  the  five  weeks 
during  which  he  has  lived  with  her,  and  engaged  to  pay  for  the 
current  week,  which  ends  on  Saturday  next. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  what  is  to  be  done  ?  The  tim^s 
with  us  are  distressing  beyond  all  past  experience ;  and  thou- 
sands of  persons  are  wholly  without  employment.  Notwithstand- 
ing his  great  faults,  I  have  commiserated  the  situation  of  your 
son,  and  have  spent  much  time  in  vainly  seeking  some  means 
by  which  he  could  get  a  living ;  so  that  what  is  to  become  of 
him,  if  entirely  deserted  by  his  relatives,  God  only  knows.  I 
have  made  all  the  inquiry  in  my  power  to  ascertain  his  habits  in 
the  matter  of  temperance,  since  he  has  been  in  the  city.  At  hie 
first  lodgings,  in  a  family  worthy  of  credit,  they  say  his  conduct 
was  perfectly  correct.  At  his  second,  they  allege  it  was  so,  ex- 
cept in  a  single  instance ;  and  that  instance  he  denies.  At  his , 
present,  his  landlady  assures  me  there  has  never  been  the  least 
appearance  of  his  having  touched  liquor.  I  can  only  add,  that 
when  he  has  called  upon  me,  and  in  the  two  instances  when  I 
have  visited  him,  there  was  no  indication  about  him  of  any  ad- 
diction to  intemperance. 

"  Besides  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  employment,  I  am 
sorry  to  add,  that  if  he  could  obtain  it,  the  state  of  his  health 


532  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

would  probably  very  soon  oblige  him  to  leave  it.  Our  climate 
seems  not  to  agree  with  him.  He  has  had  repeated  attacks  of 
asthma,  so  as  to  confine  him  to  his  bed  under  the  physician's 
care  for  two  or  three  days  at  a  time. 

"  "We  cannot  assuredly  count  on  the  permanent  reformation 
of  the  unhappy  youth,  until  God  changes  his  heart ;  but  I  do 
think,  that  so  far  as  one  destitute  of  this  blessing  can  see  his  past 
errors  and  determine  to  reform,  it  is  the  case  with  him ;  and  yet, 
not  presuming  to  interfere  with  what  God  has  made  it  your  right 
to  decide,  I  can  only  add,  that  he  could  not  be  more  unfavorably 
circumstanced  than  he  now  is  for  carrying  any  good  resolution 
into  effect.     I  pray  you  not  to  abandon  him. 

"  Very  respectfully,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

On  the  12th  and  13th  of  March,  Dr.  Milnor  wrote  again  both 
to  the  father  of  the  young  man,  and  to  the  clerical  friend  who 
first  introduced  him.  From  these  letters  the  following  are  inter- 
esting extracts. 

"  New  York,  March  12,  1840. 
"  My  dear  Sir — ^Under  these  circumstances" — ^the  father's 
refusal  of  money,  and  the  son's  inability  to  find  employment — "  I 
am  placed  in  a  state  of  great  uncertainty  as  to  my  future  course 
in  respect  to  him.  On  the  one  hand,  the  great  desire  which  you 
express  for  his  reformation,  leads  me  to  suppose  that  your  affec- 
tions are  not  entirely  withdrawn  from  him — ^that  you  do  not  con- 
sider him  an  utter  outcast ;  on  the  other,  your  order  to  make 
no  more  advances  for  him  will  assuredly  make  him  such.  If  I 
notify  his  present  landlady  that  I  will  not  be  responsible  for  his 
weekly  board,  he  must  leave  her  house ;  and  in  his  present  cir- 
cumstances, whither  shall  he  go  ?  Forgive  me,  my  dear  sir,  but 
I  am  a  father  ;  I  wish  to  act  consistently  with  the  golden  rule  of 
my  divine  Master,  and  I  must  do  to  you  and  your  unhappy  son 
as  in  a  similar  situation  I  could  wish  you  to  do  to  me  and  mine. 
I  cannot  see  him  thrown  into  the  street,  for  I  greatly  fear,  that 
instead  of  producing  the  result  which  you  desire,  it  would  be  his 
utter  ruin.  I  will  continue  my  efforts  to  get  him  employment, 
though  I  have  but  little  expectation  of  success ;  and  in  the  mean- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  533 

time,  at  least  for  a  season  sufRcient  to  give  you  opportunity  to 
reconsider  your  determination,  and  to  take,  as  I  earnestly  entreat 
you  to  do,  some  measures  for  his  return,  I  will  continue  to  pay  his 
board ;  at  the  same  time  frankly  acknowledging,  that  after  what 
you  have  written,  I  have  no  legal  claim  upon  you  for  remunera- 
tion. I  have  said  much  to  the  youth  that  may,  under  the  divine 
blessing,  be  at  some  future  time  beneficially  revived  in  his  recol- 
lection. He  appears  to  be  deeply  impressed,  even  to  tears  ;  and 
though  I  cannot  suppose  him  to  be  the  subject  of  evangelical 
repentance,  yet  sad  experience  leads  him  to  confess,  with  bitter- 
ness of  feeling,  the  past  errors  of  his  course ;  and  he  makes  to 
me  the  most  positive  assurances,  that  if  permitted  to  return,  he 
will  hereafter  pursue  a  course  of  life  that  shall  meet  his  parents' 
approbation.  He  consider-s  that  it  might  not  be  suitable,  at  pres- 
ent, for  him  to  reside  with  you  at  C ,  but  he  declares  him- 
self willing  to  go  upon  either  of  your  farms,  and  employ  himself 
there  in  any  way  which  you  may  direct,  and  to  avoid  all  those 
habits  which  have  already  proved  a  so'urce  of  so  much  misery. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote,  he  has  been  repeatedly  attacked  with 
violent  fits  of  asthma,  at  which  times  his  situation  is  extremely 
distressing ;  and  I  will  add,  in  reference  to  a  personal  inconven- 
ience to  himself,  and  a  hinderance  to  his  obtaining  respectable 
employment,  that  his  wardrobe,  if  he  is  not  to  leave  all  decent 
association,  ought,  within  reasonable  limits,  to  be  improved. 

"  Allow  me  to  add  further,  that  the  gentlemanly  port  of  your 
son,  and  the  talents  which  he  exhibits  for  conversation  and  com- 
position, would,  in  my  opinion,  fit  him  for  the  profession  of  the 
law.  Again  I  would  entreat  you  to  rescue  him  from  the  perilous 
situation  into  which  he  will  be  brought,  if  I  should  be  obliged  to 
abandon  him. 

"  If  my  suggestions  should  be  deemed  obtrusive  and  inad- 
missible, I  can  only  appeal  to  your  candor  in  behalf  of  the  good 
intentions  with  which  they  are  made.      With  compliments  to 

Mrs.  ,  and  sincere  condolence  with  her  under  the  trials 

which  her  feelings  must  suffer,  I  remain, 

"  Very  respectfully  and  truly,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

"Lieut.  Col. ." 


534        ^^  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILITOR.      ' 

"New  York,  March  13,  1840.     - 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir— Since  receiving  your  letter  of  Oct.  29, 
1839,  I  have  not  deemed  it  right  to  trouble  you  with  any  com- 
munication respecting  the  son  of  your  friend  Col. ;  circum- 
stances rendering  it  necessary  for  me  to  correspond  directly  with 
his  father.  But  matters  have  now  reached  such  a  crisis,  that  I 
can  no  longer  forbear  writing  to  you,  in  the  hope  that  your  kind 
counsel  and  intercession  may  bo  of  service  in  restoring  the  un- 
happy youth  to  the  affections  of  his  parents.  I  proceed  to  state 
some  things,  that  may  enable  you  to  form  a  judgment  in  regard 
to  the  course  proper  to  be  pursued. 

"  For  a  considerable  time  after  Mr. 's  arrival  in  this  city, 

I  saw  but  little  of  him.  I  called,  indeed,  at  his  lodgings,  and  he 
several  times  on  me  without  happening  to  find  me  at  home;  and 
as  he  did  not  make  known  to  me  any  pecuniary  necessities  that 
pressed  upon  him,  and  seemed  to  think  he  might  be  successful 
in  his  project  of  getting  his  living  as  an  author,  I  only  made 
use  of  such  opportunities  as  were  offered,  to  give  him  that  coun- 
sel which  I  hoped  might  profit  him. 

"  After  the  events  of  which  he  informed  his  mother,  such  as 
his  attempt  to  prepare  a  play  for  the  Chatham-street  theatre, 
and,  in  what  grade  of  character  I  know  not,  being  actually  per- 
suaded to  appear  upon  the  stage,  I  determined  to  bring  myself 
into  closer  contact  with  him.  I  at  once  informed  him,  that  it  was 
utterly  inconsistent  with  my  views  of  duty,  to  have  any  thing  to 
do  with  him  while  he  continued  his  attachment  to  that  mode  of 
life,  and  that  any  continuance  of  my  friendship  must  depend  on 
his  entire  abandonment  of  the  theatre,  and  all  its  associations. 

"  After  many  personal  conferences  with  him  of  the  most  seri- 
ous character,  I  sent  him,  a  few  days  ago,  a  publication  recently 
issued  by  our  Tract  Society,  on  'the  temptations  of  young  men,' 
accompanied  by  a  letter  of  considerable  length.  Yesterday  I  re- 
ceived from  him  an  encouraging  answer.  He  professes  to  lament 
sincerely  the  dreadful  condition  into  which  his  own  folly  has 
plunged  him;  blames  only  himself,  and  speaks  of  his  parents, 
especially  his  affectionate  mother,  in  the  most  grateful  manner. 
He  confesses  his  eyes  are  opened  to  a  full  view  of  his  past  mis- 
conduct, and  acknowledges  his  own  ignorance  of  the  unfeeling 


HIS  MINISTRY.         '  535 

character  of  the  world  on  which  he  had  so  mistakingly  thrown 
himself.  His  expressions  of  gratitude  to  myself,  for  my  pecun- 
iary assistance,  and  much  more  for  the  counsel  and  advice  which 
I  have  given  him,  are  very  full.  After  detailing,  at  consider- 
able length,  the  reflections  to  which  the  latter  have  led  him,  and 
expressing  himself  in  regard  to  his  mother,  in  a  way  which 
brought  a  flood  of  tears  from  my  dear  wife,  he  adds, 

"  'I  trust  that  my  desire  for  amendment  is  really  sincere  :  T 
think  it  is ;  for  although  I  have  frequently  rriade  resolutions 
which  were  easily  broken,  yet  at  present  a  total  change  seems  to 
have  come  over  my  feelings  and  intentions  for  the  future,  and  the 
desire  of  doing  right  seems  more  firmly  founded  than  I  ever  felt 
before.  I  have  begun  to  pray  and  read  my  Bible  with  more  com- 
fort to  myself  than  any  earthly  amusement  can  now  afford  me  ; 
for  all  my  fancied  happiness  is  vanished,  and  I  have  long  been  a 
prey  to  a  melancholy  which  seems  only  relieved  by  the  perusal 
of  the  sacred  volume.  It  is  really  astonishing  how  I  can  pore 
over  its  contents,  and  never  feel  tired  of  its  sacred  instructions. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  I  do  this  from  a  love  of  religion — for 
that  would  be  hypocrisy ;  but  when  a  child  I  loved  to  read  it, 
and  perhaps  it  is  a  remembrance  of  those  days,  and  the  happiness 
I  then  enjoyed,  which  makes  me  peruse  it  with  more  diligence 
than  I  should  otherwise  give.  I  feel  a  decided  conviction  of  the 
sinfulness  of  my  past  life,  and  would  willingly  make  up,  by  the 
improvement  of  my  future  conduct,  for  the  misery  and  sufferings 
which  I  have  brought  upon  my  poor  parents ;  and  I  trust,  through 
your  instructions  and  advice,  which  I  shall  always  be  happy  to 
receive,  I  may  be  led  to  seek  a  bountiful  Saviour,  in  whom  alone, 
I  am  sure,  true  happiness  is  to  be  found.  I  am  not  saying  this 
merely  to  please  you,  and  to  show  myself  in  a  too  favorable  light 
with  regard  to  religion — for  my  wishes,  I  feel,  are  sincere ;  and 
although  the  basis  on  which  I  have  placed  my  desires  for  future 
amendment'  (that  of  atonement  to  his  injured  parents)  '  may  not 
be  secure,  yet,  with  your  assistance,  and  that  of  my  Bible  and 
prayer,  I  trust  I  may  yet  become  a  restored  lamb  to  the  flock  of 
Christ.' 

"  After  more  of  a  similar  import,  he  says,  '  In  conclusion,  I 
must  say,  that  so  erroneous  have  been  my  schemes,  and  so  self. 


536  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

controlled  my  past  actions,  that  I  would  gladly  be  once  more 
under  a  parent's  eye,  and  would  willingly  attend  to  his  wishes 
and  instructions  for  the  regulation  of  my  future  life.  I  have 
tasted  the  fruits  of  disobedience  ;  their  sweets  are  momentary, 
and  turn  to  bitterness  at  last.' 

"  Thus,  my  dear  brother,  I  have  spread  before  you  the  cir- 
cumstances of  this  misguided  youth.  I  venture  to  ask  you,  is 
there  not  something  hopeful  in  his  case  ?  Would  it  not  appear 
that  the  Spirit  is  striving  with  him  ?  May  not  the  Lord,  in  an- 
swer to  his  own  and  our  fervent  prayers,  convert  and  save  him  ? 
Ought  he  to  be  abandoned  ?  Will  his  friends  allow  what  may  be 
the  commencement  of  a  work  of  grace  in  his  heart  to  be  stifled, 
by  his  being  thrown  into  a  state  of  utter  abandonment  and  de- 
spair ?     Forgive  rae,  but  I  think  Col. misjudges  as  to  the 

best  means  of  his  reclamation.  Leave  him,  in  this  unfeeling  and 
wicked  city,  without  a  shilling  and  without  a  friend,  and  what 
can  such  a  poor  outcast  do  ?  It  must  not  be  ;  and  until  I  have 
evidence  that  the  present  encouraging  appearances  are  fallacious, 
I  will  not  suffer  him  to  want  either  his  daily  bread  or  my  utmost 
efforts  and  prayers  for  his  thorough  conversion  to  happiness  and 
God.  Make  what  use  you  please  of  this  letter.  When  I  last 
wrote  to  the  colonel,  I  had  not  received  the  letter  from  his  son 
which  I  have  now  quoted. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

"  To  the  Rev.  T.  B.  F." 

Before  the  last  two  letters  were  written.  Colonel  had 

decided  upon  recalling  his  son — Dr.  Milnor's  letter  of  Feb.  24 
having  induced  the  decision.  The  letter  enclosing  the  recall, 
was,  nevertheless,  of  the  same  severe  tone  with  the  former,  and 
evinced  that  he  had  little  confidence  in  his  son's  professions  of 
sorrow  for  what  he  had  done.     Portions  of  it  were  as  follows : 

"C ,  Upper  Canada,  March  7,  1840. 

.  ;  "E.EV.  AND  DEAR  SiR — I  uccd  not  Say  how  sincerely  grateful 
I  feel  for  your  kind  attention  to  the  interests  of  my  unfortunate 
son,  and  for  all  the  trouble  which  you  have  taken  upon  yourself 
in  his  affairs,  as  manifested  in  your  letter  of  the  24th  ult. 


HIS  MINISTRY.      -  537 

"  From  all  the  circumstances  which  you  mention,  I  perceive 
it  is  in  vain  to  look  for  employment  for  the  wretched  youth  in 
New  York  ;  and  considering  his  state  of  health  and  utter  destitu- 
tion, I  know  of  nothing  better  than  to  recall  him. 

"After  his  arrival  here,  my  intention  is  to  send  my  son  to 
my  farm.  Any  thing  will  be  better  than  to  have  him  here  amidst 
so  many  witnesses  of  his  degradation.  It  could  not  be  pleasant 
to  him :  to  me  it  would  be  insupportable.  I  would  advise  him, 
most  seriously,  before  leaving  New  York,  to  burn  all  the  papers 
containing  attempts  at  plays,  poetry,  and  novels,  upon  which  he 
has  wasted  so  much  precious  time.  Experience  should,  ere  this, 
have  taught  him  that  these  idle  pursuits  can  never  benefit  him, 
even  if  he  had  the  talents  of  a  poet  or  a  novelist,  which,  even  in  a 
minor  degree,  he  has  not.  He  has  mistaken  a  liking  for  those  vain 
and  worthless  compositions,  for  the  genius  required  in  producing 
them ;  and  the  destruction  of  all  the  useless  trash  which  he  has 
collected  in  the  indulgence  of  a  diseased  imagination  and  a 
vitiated  taste,  is  a  sacrifice  now  due  to  himself,  to  prove  the 
sincerity  of  the  repentance  which  he  professes  to  feel.  He  has 
known  my  sentiments  on  this  subject  for  years ;  but  in  defiance 
of  advice,  and  in  direct  opposition  to  my  declared  wish  and  com- 
mand, he  has  continued  to  yield  himself  to  these  studies,  and  to 
no  other.  He  now  reaps  the  fruit  which  they  have  produced. 
His  mind  will  never  be  in  a  healthy  state  until  he  has  totally 
and  for  ever  abjured  them.  I  thank  God  for  what  I  hear  from 
you,  that  he  has  not  been  intemperate  of  late.  Asthma  is  his 
constitutional  disease,  and  from  a  child  he  has  had  it  impressed 
upon  him,  that  either  spiritous  or  malt  liquors  are  poison  to  his 
complaint.  He  thought  otherwise,  and  is  now  reaping  fruit  from 
that  tree  also  of  his  own  planting.  And  now,  low,  and  wretched, 
and  degraded  as  he  is,  he  should  remember,  that  it  is  not  possible 
for  him  to  regain  his  station  in  society,  save  by  a  very  long  con- 
tinuance in  acts  the  very  reverse  of  those  to  which  he  has  hither- 
to been  addicted.  I  pray  God  he  may,  ere  long,  be  able  to  offer 
these  substantial  proofs  of  amendment.  When  he  shall  have 
redeemed  his  character  as  a  gentleman,  his  intercourse  with  me 
shall  be  on  as  friendly  a  footing  as  it  ever  has  been ;  and  when- 
ever the  happy  day  shall  come,  on  which  I  shall  be  assured  he  is 


538  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

seeking  the  Lord  with  all  his  heart,  my  arms  shall  be  opened  to 
receive  him  as  a  dear  s6n. 

"  May  God  bless  you,  my  dear  sir,  for  all  the  pains  which 
you  have  taken  with  this  erring  youth.  If  it  should  please  him 
to  change  his  heart,  as  I  know  it  will  give  you  pleasure  to  hear 
of  it,  I  shall  not  fail  to  communicate  it  to  you.  Believe  me  to 
be,  with  great  respect, 

"  Very  truly  and  faithfully,  yours, 


To  this  letter  Dr.  Milnor  returned  a  reply,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  principal  part. 

To  Lieut.  Colonel . 

"New  York,  March  18,  1840. 

"  Sir— Your  favor  of  the  11th  inst.  came  to  hand  the  day 
before  yesterday.  My  first  business  was  to  see  your  son,  and 
acquaint  him  that  he  was  permitted,  and  would  be  supplied  with 
the  means  to  return  home.  You  may  judge,  after  all  that  has 
occurred,  that  this  was  to  him  pleasing  information.  Without 
any  extravagant  expressions  of  joy,  he  received  it  with  becoming 
seriousness  and  sensibility.  I  spent  much  time  with  him,  then 
and  since,  in  giving  him  such  counsel  as,  under  the  blessing  of 
God,  and  with  his  good  resolutions,  if  he  persevere  in  them, 
may  yet  make  him  a  respectable  and  useful  man,  a  Christian, 
and  a  candidate  for  a  happy  eternity.  I  do  not  suppose  him  to 
possess  '■  a  new  heart ;'  but  I  do  believe  the  Spirit  of  God  has  striven 
with  him,  and  that  he  has  felt  awakened  desires  to  experience  the 
joys  of  true  religion.  May  God  prosper  the  work,  if  begun,  and 
make  him  all  that  his  parents'  fondest  wishes  could  desire." 

"And  now,  my  dear  sir,  I  can  only  say,  your  son  has  under- 
gone much  of  the  salutary  discipline  which  you  have  desired. 
He  has  passed  a  lonely  winter ;  and,  except  in  the  few  weeks  of 
my  unacquaintance  with  his  doings,  I  have  reason  to  believe  he 
has  formed  no  prejudicial  associations.  During  a  few  of  my  latest 
interviews  with  him,  there  have  been  some  favorable  indications 
of  a  substantial  change  of  mind;  and  so  far  as  respects  absti- 
nence from  all  that  would  be  displeasing  to  you,  or  in  itself  wrong, 
his  assurances  have  been  reiterated  and  earnest. 


HIS  MINISTRY.         /  539 

"  It  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  advise  you  as  to  your 
future  course  towards  him ;  but  I  am  sure  you  will  excuse  me 
when  I  say,  that  without  intermitting  due  watchfulness  over  his 
conduct,  I  would  notj  were  he  my  own  son,  use  austerity  of  man- 
ner towards  him,  or  what  he  might  think  unkindness.  For  the 
present,  I  would  give  credit  to  his  promises  of  reformation,  and 
take  measures  for  giving  him  a  profession.  I  do  believe,  that  were 
a  godly  minister  to  watch  over  and  counsel  him,  he  might  yet 
redeem  his  character,  and  become  an  ornament  to  the  Church  of 
Christ.  He  has  my  prayers  for  his  conversion;  and  with  those 
of  his  parents  and  friends,  and  well-conducted  endeavors,  I  by 
no  means  despair  of  his  being  made  a  good  man — peradventure  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel  to  those  with  whom  he  has  heretofore  so 
injuriously  revelled. 

"It  has  afforded  me  great  pleasure  to  render  you  and  your 
family  the  little  service  which  I  have  been  enabled  to  perform. 
If  your  son  should  be  reclaimed  and  do  well,  it  will  be  an  ample 
remuneration  for  any  trouble  which  his  case  has  occasioned  me. 

With  my  compliments  to  Mrs. and  your  sister,  I  remain, 

'  Very  truly,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  the  young  man's  recall  was  in- 
duced by  Dr.  Milnor's  letter  of  the  24th  February.  Those  sub- 
sequently written,  giving  a  more  cheering  view  of  his  moral  and 
religious  prospects,  prepared  the  way  for  a  far  kinder  reception 
than  the  terms  of  his  recall  seemed  to  promise.  The  character 
of  his  reception  is  apparent  from  the  tenor  of  the  following  com- 
munication, which  Dr.  Milnor,  several  weeks  afterwards,  received 
from  the  young  man  himself. 

"  C ,  Upper  Canada,  30tli  April,  1840. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — Having  just  learned  that  a  person  in 
this  neighborhood  is  about  to  proceed  to  New  York,  I  take  the 
opportunity  of  writing  to  you  according  to  promise,  since  I  am 
sure  you  will  be  anxious  to  hear  of  my  return  to  my  father^ s 
house,  together  with  any  hopes  that  may  be  entertained  relative 
to  my  future  prospects. 

"  The  reception  with  which,  on  my  arrival,  I  met  from  my 


540  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

family,  and  I  may  say  from  all  with  whom  I  had  formed  any 
previous  acquaintance,  was  certainly  far  beyond  the  utmost  of 
my  expectations.  It  was  a  warm  and  cheering  reception ;  the 
reception,  as  many  have  termed  it,  of  the  prodigal  son,  returned, 
at  last,  from  the  misery  and  guilt  to  which  he  had  been  a  volun- 
tary victim,  to  the  restored  confidence  and  indulgence  of  a  joy- 
ous parent,  who  seemed  to  forget  the  past  in  bright  hopes  of  a 
future  reformation. 

"  I  feel,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  can  never  fully  thank  you  for  the 
timely  assistance  which  you  rendered  me  in  your  last  commu- 
nication to  the  Rev.  Mr.  F ;  for  it  was  that  letter,  the  con- 
tents of  which  were  made  known  to  my  parents,  that  seemed, 
in  the  first  degree,  to  effect  that  change  in  my  father's  feelings 
towarijs  me,  for  which  I  earnestly  and  gratefully  thank  God ; 
while  the  remembrance  of  all  I  have  so  lately  suffered  comes 
back  to  my  mind  in  its  full  force.  Had  I  never  met  with  you, 
had  I  never  known  what  it  was  to  find  a  friend  in  a  land  of 
strangers,  I  might  still  have  been  the  same  wretched  creature, 
without  home,  or  friends,  or  any  one  to  pity  me,  that  I  was  when 
you  first  extended  your  kindly  hand  to  the  sorrowing  exile.  My 
case  might  have  been  even  more  deplorable  now  than  it  was 
then ;  for  God  only  knows  what  would  have  become  of  me,  had 
I  continued  much  longer  in  a  city  where  every  one  around  me 
was  starving.  But  through  your  kindness  and  exertions  in  my 
behalf,  I  find  myself  restored  to  a  home  and  long  lost  parents, 
whom  I  thought  never  more  to  behold.  My  father  appears  as 
kind  in  his  manner  towards  me  as  he  ever  was.  And  while  en- 
joying this  return  of  confidence  and  indulgence  on  his  part,  I  am  > 
trying,  on  mine,  all  that  lies  in  my  power  to  please  and  comfort 
him.  Through  the  blessing  of  God,  I  trust  that  the  happy 
reunion  which  has  been  effected  may  ever  continue  as  brightly 
as  it  has  begun. 

"  Although  I  have  been  anxiously  looking  forward  to  the  time 
when  I  shall  be  steadily  settled  at  some  good  employment,  yet 
my  prospects  are  still  rather  clouded.  The  study  of  the  law 
seems  to  be  out  of  the  question,  however  anxious  I  might  be  to 
attain  a  correct  knowledge  of  it ;  for,  in  the  first  place,  it  would 
take  me  at  least  two  years  of  constant  study  to  acquire  even  the 


HIS  MINISTRY. 


nr     V  or  THE  ' 

JuiriVBs.si'] 


necessary  knowledge  of  the  classics;  after  which,  in  the  next 
place,  as  you  doubtless  know  from  your  early  pursuits,  five 
years'  study  of  the  law  is  required  before  a  student  can  be  ad- 
mitted to  practice.  I  have  been  talking  with  my  father  on  the 
subject  of  my  becoming  a  physician,  and  I  may  have  some  hopes 
on  this  head  ;  but  as  my  friends  in  Ireland  have  been  written  to 
on  the  subject,  we  are  anxiously  awaiting  a  reply  before  doing 
any  thing  further  for  me  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

"  Although  my  health  is  much  improved  since  my  return  to 
Canada,  yet  I  am  only  now  recovering  from  a  severe  fit  of 
asthma ;  and  as  I  feel  very  weak  at  present,  and  my  mother 
intends  writing  you  a  few  lines,  I  must  beg  you  to  excuse  the 
shortness  of  my  letter,  and  believe  me,  dear  sir, 

"  Ever,  your  grateful  and  obliged  servant, 

"G T ." 

Appended  to  this  letter,  and  on  the  same  sheet,  are  the  prom- 
ised lines  from  the  mother. 

"  My  dear  Sir — ^AUow  me  to  offer  you  my  warmest  thanks 
for  all  your  kindness  to  my  dear  child.  You  have  been  the 
means,  under  Providence,  of  his  restoration  to  us  all ;  and  I  am 
happy  to  say  his  outward  conduct  is  every  thing  we  could  wish, 
or  that  his  letters  led  us  to  expect ;  but  we  must  wait  the  Lord's 
time  for  that  inward  change  which  his  power  only  can  effect. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  the  colonel  has  had  a  very  severe  attack  of 
fever,  and  is  ndt  yet  out  of  bed,  though  doing  well.  I  was 
much  gratified  by  your  present  of  the  little  book.  A  friend  of 
ours,  Capt.  Y.,  will  hand  you  the  amount  which  you  were  so 
kind  as  to  advance  to  Gr.  Pray  excuse  haste,  and  believe  me, 
with  kind  love  for  you  and  yours,  in  which  the  colonel  and  Miss 
Y.  beg  to  join, 
'  "  Most  sincerely  and  gratefully,  yours, 

"M Y ." 

So  ends,  with  these  interesting  extracts,  the  account  of  that 
passage  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Milnor  which  immediately  followed  his 
Canadian  tour,  at  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1839.  The  issue  of 
his  cares  for  the  young  man  concerned,  is,  to  us,  a  secret  among 
the  things  of  God.     Hope  whispers  that  his  cares  were  not  in 


542  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

vain ;  but  fear  suggests  the  possibility  that  they  were  never  fol- 
lowed by  the  great  end  which  he  sought.*  The  case  is  full  of 
lessons  for  the  young ;  and  not  without  teachings  to  elder  years. 
They  lie  on  the  surface,  and  need  not  to  be  indicated  to  the  reader. 
In  one  remark  only  will  the  writer  indulge. 

"  The  law  is  our  schoolmaster  to  bring  us  to  Christ."  The 
law  drives  us  to  the  Gospel.  The  law  kills ;  the  Gospel  giveth 
life.  But  the  law  must  be  used  lawfully,  that  the  Gospel  may 
do  its  work  effectually.  Each,  rightly  used,  has  its  place;  and 
neither  can  do  without  the  other.  The  law,  by  its  terrors,  must 
convince  of  sin,  before  the  Gospel,  by  its  love,  can  win  the  soul 
Something  like  this  principle  seems  illustrated  in  the  foregoing 
case.  The  offended  father,  in  his  earlier  action,  is  all  law.  The 
loving  minister,  throughout  his  course,  is  all  gospel.  The  stern 
severity  of  the  former  may  have  been  necessary  to  make  the 
guilty  offender  appreciate  the  winning  gentleness  of  the  latter. 
And  both  together,  under  the  sealing  grace  of  the  Spirit,  may 
have  wrought  a  renewal,  harmonious  at  first,  and  finally  coales- 
cent  with  the  higher  and  saving  change,  for  which  Dr.  Milnor  so 
tenderly  labored  and  so  earnestly  prayed.  We  proceed  to  the 
other  correspondence  for  the  year  1840. 

■  '     •  '  '-.r'^^^'ti:-^':-:'  .  '       ■  -     ■  ■' 

The  Oxford  Tract  controversy  had  now  made  an  open  entry 
into  our  church  through  the  republication,  in  New  York,  of  "  the 
Tracts  for  the  Times."  Dr.  Milnor's  letters,  therefore,  to  his 
principal  correspondents  may  be  expected  distinctly  to  define  his 
position  in  relation  to  the  agitating  questions  thus  introduced. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  position  was  not  left  doubtful. 

To   Bishop    McIlvainCf  '  , 

"New  York,  Jan.  31,  1840. 
"  My  dear  Bishop — I  should  sooner  have  answered  your  kind 
favors  of  the  17th  of  December,  and  the  6th  instant,  but  that  I 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  the  author  has  received  a  note  from  Dr.  William 
H.  Milnor  to  the  following  effect :  "  I  must  have  omitted  in  my  '  Recollec- 
tions '  to  state,  that  the  young  man  subsequently  passed  through  New  York 
with  his  parents,  and  called  at  the  rectory.  He  was  on  his  way  to  England 
with  them,  to  enter  on  a  course  of  study  preparatory  to  the  ministry.^' 


HIS  MINISTRY.  543 

hoped  before  this  time  to  have  read  your  anxiously  expected 
charge,  on  "justification,"  and  to  have  communicated  to  you 
some  information  of  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  here  re- 
ceived, and  of  the  effects  which  it  had  produced.  The  delay  in 
its  appearance  is  a  little  provoking ;  but  no  doubt  we  shall  be 
a,mply  compensated  whenever  it  arrives. 

"  I  am  glad  my  little  protest  against  one  of  the  many  errors 
of  the  school  at  Oxford,  meets  your  approbation.  It  has  excited 
the  disapprobation  of  a  few ;  and  among  them,  of  the  editor  of 
'  the  New  York  Review,'  who,  as  I  presume  you  have  seen,  en- 
tirely approves  of  the  new  divinity,  and  charges  me,  without 
quoting  a  line  of  my  sermon  in  proof,  with  advancing  a  view  of 
the  nature  and  design  of  the  eucharist  which  is  positively  So- 
cinian!  It  was,  I  fear,  in  a  wrong  spirit  that  the  doctor  put  on 
record  this  unfounded  charge.  Some  time  since,  I  dined  in  his 
company  ;  and  after  dinner  the  subject  of  the  Oxford  tracts  was 
brought  upon  the  carpet.  At  that  time  he  had  evidently  made 
himself  but  little  acquainted  with  them  ;  yet  with  very  imper- 
fect second-hand  information,  he  undertook  to  become  their  de- 
fender ;  endeavoring,  however,  to  controvert  my  representations 
of  some  of  their  views,  and  to  give  a  plausible  gloss  to  such  as  he 
could  not  deny.  I  had  just  risen  from  a  fortnight's  study  of  the 
whole  series  of  '  the  Tracts,'  and  was  therefore  prepared  to  ex- 
hibit them  in  their  true  colors.  Several  clergymen  of  our  church 
were  present,  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  chancellor  of  the 
university.  One  intelligent  clergyman  remarked,  that  I  had 
'  floored  Dr. on  every  point ;'  and  several  confessed  the  im- 
pression which  my  argument  made  on  their  minds  against  the 
tracts.  The  doctor,  however,  is  much  abler  with  his  pen  than 
with  his  tongue.  He  has  since,  no  doubt,  studied  the  tracts 
attentively  ;  and  I  am  ready,  his  spirit  towards  me  notwithstand- 
ing, to  acknowledge  the  talent  displayed  in  his  review,  though  I 
regret  its  employment  in  such  a  cause. 

"  And  now,  in  reference  to  this  dangerous  system,  I  fear  that 
it  is  to  obtain  an  influence  in  our  church  quite  equal  to  that 
which  it  is  exerting  across  the  water.  In  our  diocese,  the  bishop 
expresses  his  entire  approval  of  its  doctrines.  In  answer  to  a 
clergyman  who  said  that  he  could  go  half  way  with  the  authors 


544  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILN'OR. 

of  the  tracts,  the  bishop  told  him  to  read  and  study  them  more 
attentively,  and  he  would  be  prepared,  like  -himself,  to  go  the 
whole.  He  inquires  of  all  the  candidates  for  orders,  whether 
they  have  read  them ;  and  if  not,  urges  them  to  do  so :  and 
many  of  the  students  in  the  seminary — though  few  have  read 
more  than  the  numbers  republished  in  New  York — are  yet  their 
loud  eulogists,  and  consider  the  promulgation  of  these  '  primitive 
views '  as  constituting  a  more  propitious  era  to  the  Church  than 
that  of  the  Reformation,  the  fanaticism  of  whose  conductors  car- 
ried them  so  far  ultra  mediam  viam,  in  their  correction  of  a  few 
acknowledged  errors  in  the  Roman  church  I     "We  thought  we 

had  achieved  somewhat,  when  we  prevented  the  return  of 

to  his  temporary  professorship ;  but,  unhappily,  the  seminary 
contains  a  man  of  more  influence,  one  too  who  constantly 
exerts  that  influence  in  favor  of  Puseyism,  and  whose  repu- 
tation for  learning  and  piety  enables  him  to  exercise  a  pow- 
erful control  over  the  students.  A  few  of  them  come  to  me  to 
unburden  their  griefs,  and  especially  to  deplore  the  sad  effects 
of  the  Oxford  divinity  on  the  spirituality  of  some  of  their  asso- 
ciates, of  whose  evangelical  tendency  they  had,  some  time  ago, 
the  brightest  hopes.  I  verily  believe,  that  when  about  half  a 
dozen  precious  souls  shall  have  left  the  institution,  there  will 
remain  scarcely  an  advocate  for  the  scriptural  doctrines  of  our 
articles  and  homilies  in  their  plain,  unsophisticated  sense.  And 
then,  when  we  consider  the  advanced  age  of  one  or  two  of  our 
evangelical  bishops,  which  will  prevent  their  effective  opposition, 
the  balancing  state  of  mind  in  some  of  their  juniors,  and  the 
reluctance  of  others  among  them  to  engage  in  controversy,  my 
fears  grow  still  more  serious,  and  my  only  confidence  is,  that 
'  when  the  enemy  cometh  in  like  a  flood,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
will  lift  up  a  standard  against  him.' 

"I  regret  that  I  cannot  send  you  a  copy  of  the  very  excellent 

charge  of  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta.     One  was  lent  to  me  ;  and  so 

far  as  I  know,  it  is  the  only  one  in  the  city.     Please  remember 

me,  my  dear  bishop,  in  your  daily  prayers,  and  believe  me         :i 

"  Yours,  most  truly  and  affectionately,  '^ 

"JAMES  MILNOR."     . 


HIS  MINISTRY.  545 

To   the   same. 

"New  York,  Feb.  8,  1840. 
"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  have  thought  it  best  to 
send  to  you,  by  the  direct  route,  an  answer  to  your  favor  of  the 
31st  ult.,  lest  the  delay  should  prove  a  hinderance  to  you  in  get- 
ting out  your  charge. 

"I  regret  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  send  you,  in  the  way 
proposed,  any  of  my  numbers  of  the  Christian  Observer,  as  they 
are  all  bound  in  volumes  to  the  close  of  the  past  y6ar.  But 
although  the  numbers  for  the  last  two  years  and  upwards  contain 
much  matter  in  relation  to  the  Oxford  tracts,  and  all  their  vari- 
ous errors  are,  more  or  less,  the  subject  of  remark,  yet  you  will 
perceive  their  examination  to  be  of  less  importance  to  you,  when 
I  mention  that  neither  Newman's  Lectures  on  Justification,  nor 
Dr.  Pusey's  Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  is  the  subject  of  a 
specific  review.  The  lectures  of  the  former  on  Romanism  are 
briefly  reviewed,  but  without  any  material  reference  to  the  sub- 
ject of  Justification;  but  neither  of  the  other  works  is  more 
than  incidentally  noticed.  I  doubt  whether,  from  any  of  the  ani- 
madversions, scattered  in  brief  notices  throughout  the  period  re- 
ferred to,  you  would  derive  much  information  beyond  what  you 
already  possess,  in  relation  to  their  avowed  doctrine  of  justifica- 
tion by  baptism,  further  justification  by  self-mortifying  observ- 
ances, etc.,  and  final  justification  ^t  the  day  of  judgment :  the 
same  system  so  broadly  avowed  in  the  correspondence  between 
Bishop  Jebb  and  Mr.  Knox,  the  inadequacy  of  which  to  afford 
true  comfort  to  the  dying  Christian,  there  is  reason  to  believe,. 
was  so  powerfully  realized  by  the  latter  in  his  last  sickness. 

-  "I  have  made  inquiry  of  booksellers,  in  hope  of  being  able 
to  obtain  for  you  such  numbers  of  the  Christian  Observer  as  con- 
tain the  most  valuable  matter  in  relation  to  the  doctrine  which 
is  the  subject  of  your  charge  ;  but  they  are  not  to  be  had.  The 
Recorder  has,  I  think,  made  a  pretty  good  use  of  them  in  the 
numerous  extracts  which  it  has  published.  The  talents  of  Mr. 
Wilkes  as  a  controversialist,  are  far  greater  than  I  supposed  him 
to  possess ;  and  he  enters  into  the  battle  with  the  altitudinarians 
at  Oxford  con  amore.  He  is,  I  think,  about  the  most  annoying 
assailant  with  whom  they  have  to  contend.     Here,  next  to  Dr. 

Mem.  MOnor.  35 


546  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

,  perhaps  even  before  him,  ranks  Dr. ,  as  an  earnest 


defender  of  the  Oxford  tracts.  His  review  of  them — to  which, 
in  my  last  letter,  I  referred,  and  which,  no  doubt,  you  have  ere 
now  seen — is,  in  some  instances,  a  direct  defence  of  their  anti- 
protestant  doctrines,  and  in  others  an  attempt,  by  subtle  casu- 
istry, to  disguise  their  enormities.  The  bishop's  influence  also  is 
very  injurious ;  and  yet,  while  he  is  recommending  the  study  of 
these  tracts  to  candidates  for  orders,  with  a  decided  expression  of 
opinion  in  their  faVor,  I  have  very  recently  attended  examina- 
tions at  which  both  his  questions  and  the  answers  of  the  candi- 
date were  any  thing  but  in  accordance  with  their  doctrines.  He 
has  never  yet  introduced  the  subject  to  me,  nor  to  any  one  in  my 
presence ;  but  students  have,  in  several  instances,  informed  me 
of  his  high  eulogy  of  the  Oxford  divinity,  as  being  the  same  with 
that  which  he  has  taught  for  many  years,  even  long  before  the 
movement  in  Great  Britain.  In  that  country.  Dr.  Wolff"  has 
avowed  himself  an  adherent  of  most  of  the  Oxford  peculiarities. 
The  Wilberforces  are  said  to  be  coworkers  with  the  school,  and 
even  our  friend  Melvill  is  suspected."  [Since  that  time,  some  of 
the  suspected  ones  have  cleared  themselves.]  "  God  be  thanked, 
we  have  yet  some  bishops,  and  I  trust  a  goodly  number  of  pres- 
byters, who  will  have  moral  courage  enough  to  stick  to  the  Bible 
as  the  only  rule  of  faith,  and  to  our  articles  and  homilies,  not 
merely  on  the  ground  of  their  ecclesiastical  authority,  but  be- 
cause they  are  so  delightfully  accordant  with  God's  precious 
book.  We  are  beyond  measure  anxious  for  your  charge.  Pray 
do  not  delay  its  publication.  If  any  thing  is  wanting  in  the 
first,  it  can  be  supplied  in  a  second  edition.  I  hope  your  book- 
seller will  send  a  considerable  number  for  sale  at  the  eastward, 
where,  I  assure  you,  it  is  awaited  with  much  impatience. 

"  Truly,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

Whatever  of  correspondence  may  have  passed  between  Dr. 
Milnor  and  his  friends  during  the  spring,  summer,  and  autumn 
of  1840,  all  that  was  valuable  in  it  has  been  lost,  or  proved  irre- 
coverable. He  spent  his  summer  vacation  on  a  visit  to  lake 
George  and  its  neighborhood ;  but  no  trace  of  his  tour  remains, 
with  the  exception  of  one  brief  note  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  informing 


HIS  MINISTRY.  547 

her  of  his  arrival  at  the  Springs,  and  of  his  intention  to  proceed 
to  the  lake  the  next  afternoon.  At  the  close  of  the  year  he 
received  notice  that  he  would  soon  be  called  to  make  another 
nomination  to  the  Milnor  professorship  in  Kenyon  college.  The 
letter  containing  this  notice  is  pertinent  to  these  memoirs. 

From  the  Rev.   Dr.   Sparrow. 

"Gambier,  Dec.  17,  1840. 

•■■  "  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — Having  concluded  to  remove  from  this 
diocese  to  that  of  Virginia,  and  accept  a  situation  offered  me  in 
their  theological  seminary,  it  seems  proper  that  I  should  apprize 
you  of  my  intention. 

'  "  Years  ago,  when  I  was  much  younger  in  age,  and  much 
younger  still  in  health  and  strength,  you  very  unexpectedly  nom- 
inated me  to  the  Milnor  professorship.  That  so  much  confidence 
should  be  reposed  in  one  so  young  and  so  little  known,  was  a 
wonder  to  me  ;  and  I  can  truly  say,  helped,  with  higher  consider- 
ations, to  make  me  solicitous  to  discharge  my  duty  faithfully. 
The  value  of  truth,  pure  truth,  '  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth,'  in  matters  of  religion  even  more  than  in 
the  affairs  of  the  judgment-hall,  I  have  always  felt  to  be  impor- 
tant ;  and  the  incident  referred  to  was  a  stimulus,  additional  to 
every  other,  to  '  give  heed  to  my  doctrine.'  How  far  I  have  suc- 
ceeded is  certainly  known  to  none  but  the  infallible  Judge  in 
heaven.  This,  however,  I  think  I  may  say  to  you,  that  during 
eleven  years'  duty  in  this  station,  I  have  never  seen  occasion  to 
depart  in  the  least  from  the  spirit  of  those  instructions  which, 
when  a  lonely  student  in  New  York,  I  used  to  seek  in  the  lec- 
ture-room of  St.  Greorge's  on  week-day  evenings.  May  they  as 
certainly  carry  me,  through  infinite  grace  and  mercy,  to  the  in- 
heritance which  I  seek  above,  as  I  have  endeavored  to  inculcate 
them  pn  the  minds  committed  to  my  care. 

"  I  regret  exceedingly,  that  when  I  was  last  in  New  York  I 
was  not  able  to  enjoy  more  of  your  society,  and  have  some  free 
conversation  with  you  about  the  state  of  religion  in  our  church. 
Your  long  and  careful  study  of  events  as  they  have  arisen  among 
us,  would  naturally  give  weight  to  your  judgment  upon  such 
matters,  and  not  least  with  me.     How  you  interpret  some  of  the 


548  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

'signs  of  the  times'  I  cannot  conjecture.  In  reference  to  some 
things,  there  is  more  obscurity,  vacillancy,  and  ambiguity  about 
the  doings  of  some  portions  of  our  church,  than  I  like  to  see.     I 

think  the  declaration  of  the ,  whose  ability  and  honesty 

I  respect — that  the  only  difference  between  the  high  and  the 
low  church  portions  of  our  communion,  is  one  oi  feeling — a  ques- 
tion ^mply  of  more  or  less  zeal — one  of  the  severest  satires  ever 
inflicted  on  a  respectable  and  intelligent  body  of  ecclesiastics. 
Were  I  near  you,  I  should  like  to  canvass  with  you  in  person  the 
truth  of  this  assertion. 

"But  you  will  excuse  all  this  irrelevancy.  My  only  object  in 
writing  was  to  announce  to  you,  as  the  person  who  nominated  me 
and  will  have  the  nomination  of  my  successor  to  the  Milnor  pro- 
fessorship, that  I  expect  to  retire  from  my  present  position  about 
the  end  of  next  spring  vacation ;  that  is,  about  the  first  of  May. 

"  Present  my  respects  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  and  believe  me, 
"  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  most  truly, 

"  Your  obliged  friend  and  servant, 

"WILLIAM  SPARROW." 
"  The  Rev.  James  Milnor,  D.  D.,  New  York." 

About  this  period  the  onsets  of  the  upon  Bishop 

Mcllvaine  appear,  from  his  letters  to  Dr.  Milnor,  to  have  become 
marked  both  for  frequency  and  for  violence.  To  this  state  of 
things  allusions  are  made  in  the  following  letters  to  the  bishop. 

"New  York,  January,  15  1841. 

"  My  dear  Bishop — Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  your  letter, 

I  sent  the  accompanying  communication  to  Bishop ,  and 

have  no  doubt  it  was  on  his  suggestion  that  the  editor  of  the 
has  tried  to  make  his  peace  with  you  by  personal  corre- 
spondence. I  am  glad  you  have  insisted  on  the  publication  of 
all  the  letters ;  though  I  should  not  wonder  if,  encouraged  by 
the  bishop's  unqualified  patronage,  he  should  exclude  your  vin- 
dication from  his  paper,  and  substitute  some  half-way,  unintelli- 
gible apology  of  his  own. 

"  I  have  read,  with  great  delight,  your  interesting  and  elab- 
orate examination  of  the  principles  of  the  Oxford  divinity,  and 
earnestly  hope  it  may  have  a  wide-extended  circulation.     But 


HIS  MINISTRY.  .  549 

when  this  edition  is  disposed  of,  I  shall  look  with  anxiety  for  one 
of  less  magnitude  and  price  ;  so  that  it  may  go  into  the  hands 
of  many  more  of  the  clergy  and  laity  than  will  buy  it  in  its 
present  more  expensive  form.  I  observed  with  pleasure  the 
notice  of  its  intended  publication  in  London,  and  anticipate  for 
it  a  most  favorable  reception  from  the  friends  of  evangelical 
religion  both  in  and  out  of  the  church. 

"  I  had  at  my  house,  last  evening,  a  young  clergyman  who 
has  spent  some  time  in  England.  He  was  introduced  to  Mr. 
Newman,  with  whose  personal  conversation,  which  he  says  was 
not  at  all  polemical,  he  was  much  pleased  ;  as  he  was  with  that 
also  of  one  or  two  others  of  the  party.  He  says,  the  great 
majority  at  Oxford  are  decided  rejecters  of  Puseyism,  and  feel 
indignant  that  his  system  should  anywhere  be  supposed  to  meet 
the  approval  of  the  university,  whose  stamp  it  is,  by  some, 
thought  to  bear. 

"  I  had  been  apprized  of  the  subject  of  your  letter  of  the 
4th  instant,  by  one  received  some  time  before  from  Dr.  Spar- 
row, and  have  in  vain  been  looking  round  for  some  one  who 
could  satisfactorily  fill  his  place.  You  may  be  assured  that  I 
shall  have  a  very  high  regard  to  your  approval,  and  shall  never 
propose  to  the  board  of  trustees  one  whom  I  do  not  previously 
know  to  be  agreeable  to  you ;  harmony  of  views  between  the 
head  of  the  theological  seminary  and  its  professors  being  of  the 
utmost  importance.  The  portraiture  which  you  have  drawn  of 
the  man  whom  you  would  prefer,  I  very  much  like ;  while  I 
have  great  fears  lest,  in  our  limited  circle  of  candidates,  we  shall 
not  be  able  to  find  one,  in  whom  all  its  lineaments  are  blended. 
I  shall  at  all  times  be  glad  to  receive  from  you  any  intimation  as 
to  your  wishes ;  being,  as  ever, 

"  Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

"New  York,  March  16,  1841. 

"  Right  Rev.  and  dear  Bishop — Your  last  favor,  by  Mr.  Hoyt, 

bears  date  near  a  month  ago ;  so  that  I  am  apprehensive  you 

will  think  me  inattentive  to  the  several  topics  of  that  and  former 

letters,  if  I  longer  delay  an  answer,  though  I  regret  my  being 


550  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  • 

still  unprepared  to  reply  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  my  own 
mind  or  profitable  to  yourself, 

"Immediately  on  receiving  your  request  in  relation  to  the 
republication  here  of  your  work  on  the  Oxford  divinity,  I  called 
on  the  Messrs. ,  but  found  they  had  just  completed  an  ar- 
rangement for  becoming  the  agents  of  others  for  publishing,  or 
to  publish  on  their  own  account,  the  various  books  issued  at  Ox- 
ford. I  then  called  on  another  firm,  but  they  also  declined  on 
the  score  of >  their  present  responsibilities.  I  have  since  conversed 
with  one  or  two  others ;  but  the  fact  is,  that  the  disastrous  state 
of  the  times  creates,  for  the  present,  insuperable  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  almost  every  enterprise.  A  cheap  edition  of  your 
book,  however,  ought  to  be  out  soon;  and  I  hope  you  will  be  able 
to  fall  on  some  plan  by  which  it  may  be  accomplished. 

"May  I  ask  what  you  think  of  the  'Bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church  in  the  diocese  of  Maryland,'  laying  aside  this 
his  appropriate  title,  and  styling  himself  in  his  q^c/a/ papers, 
'  Bishop  of  Maryland,'  and  certifying  the  administration  of  con- 
firmation '  conformably  with  the  goodly  order  and  administration 
of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Christ  in  these  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica?' Though  I  well  understand  the  grounds  on  which  this 
change  of  title  is  defended,  and  though  something  of  the  same 
kind  has  been  attempted  in  the  convention  of  our  own  diocese, 
yet  I  lament  it  as,  in  truth,  another  attempt  to  get  rid  of  the 
idea,  so  odious  to  Oxfordism,  of  protesting  against  the  Romish 
church.     It  is  another  branch  of  the  vine  of  Puseyism. 

"  I  have  never  been  able  to  obtain  the  number  of  the 

to  which  you  have  referred  me,  and  of  course  am  unacquainted 
with  the  exact  nature  of  its  assault  upon  you,  though  I  readily 
infer  from  your  letters  that  it  was  of  a  most  offensive  character. 
The  position  in  which  the  editor  has  placed  you,  by  a  singular 
disregard  of  common  courtesy  between  man  and  man,  indepen- 
dent of  your  official  claims  on  his  respect,  together  with  the 
waiver  of  responsibility  on  the  part  of  his  diocesan,  after  what 
I  think  should  be  considered  its  official  assumption,  makes  the 
case  not  a  little  difficult.  As  to  the  suggested  appeal  to  the  New 
York  Standing  Committee,  I  am  persuaded  it  would  be  worse 
than  useless.     They  would,  I  have  no  doubt,  either  decline  inter 


HIS   MINISTRY.  551 

ferenoe,  or  decide  the  matter  entirely  on  party  grounds.  I  am 
also  sorry,  in  reference  to  another  suggestion,  to  express  a  very 
repugnant  feeling  towards  any  interference  whatever  with  the 
religious  press  on  the  part  of  the  General  Convention.  It  could 
assume  no  shape  that  would  not  be  alarming  to  the  minds  of 
many.  I  confess,  I  should  myself  feel  as  sensitive  in  regard  to 
any  prescribed  restrictions  on  the  religious,  as  I  would  with  re- 
gard to  the  same  course,  on  the  part  of  the  general  or  state  gov- 
ernment, with  the  liberty  of  the  political  press.  In  both  cases  I 
think  the  principle  should  be — unfettered  freedom,  with  respon- 
sibility for  its  abuse.  Editors  of  political  and  religious  papers 
should  be  alike  liable  for  libels  on  personal  character ;  and  your 
assailant  should  be  presented,  tried,  and  punished  for  any  un- 
founded aspersions,  whether  the  offensive  article  be  editorial,  or 
published  from  a  correspondent  with  his  sanction,  especially  after 
refusing  redress  to  the  injured  party.  But  the  times  are  out  of 
joint  when  such  an  assailant  is  able  to  take  shelter  under  the 
wing  of  a  bishop,  and  when  the  appeal  for  justice  must  be  made 
to  one  who  is  a  copartner  in  the  offence,  or  will  at  least  be  found 
to  have  prejudged  its  merits  in  favor  of  his  friend  and  favorite. 
Under  such  circumstances,  I  can  conceive  of  no  course  more 
judicious  than  that  which  you  proposed,  of  publishing  the  whole 
correspondence,  though  I  think  it  might  be  best  done  in  a  pam- 
phlet form. 

"Your  friend  Dr.  Gregory  has  gone  to  his  rest.  I  scarcely 
thought,  when  we  saw  him  at  "Woolwich,  in  1830,  that  he  would 
be  detained  so  long  from  its  enjoyment. 

"We  are  passing,  at  St.  George's,  a  very  pleasant,  and  I 
hope,  profitable  Lent.  We  have  among  us  several  exercised 
minds,  and  an  unusual  interest  in  our  extra  services.  We  have 
three  every  Sunday,  and  four  during  the  week.  After  prayers 
on  Wednesday  and  Friday  mornings,  we  read  a  portion  of  our 
venerable  homilies,  and  have  a  lecture  on  the  evening  of  each  of 
those  days ;  besides  a  domestic  religious  meeting  in  the  families 
of  our  parishioners,  every  Monday  evening.  Mr.  Cooke,  who  is 
indefatigable  in  his  labors,  has  also  a  Bible  class  every  Saturday 
evening.  Thus,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  we  hope  to  have  some 
special  evidence  among  us  of  the  wisdom  of  the  church,  in  ap- 


552  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

pointing  this  season  of  ^protracted  meetings,''  in  which  our  mem'- 
bers  may  be  called,  in  our  peculiarly  solemn  services,  to  an  awa- 
kened attention  to  the  things  that  belong  to  their  eternal  peace. 

"  I  have  now  said  enough,  my  dear  bishop,  to  weary  your 
patience,  with  but  little  that  can  apply  to  any  practical  use  ;  but 
I  trust  in  your  goodness  to  excuse  the  garrulity  of  an  old  man, 
and  to  believe  me,  with  undiminished  regard, 
"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"  And  faithful  brother  in  Christ, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

To  the  same.  .  , 

"New  York,  July  14,  1841. 
"My  dear  Bishop — I  have  been  in  great  perplexity  in  regard 
to  the  professorship.  Dr.  Vaughan  has  insuperable  objections  to 
its  acceptance.  "What  think  you  of  Dr.  May  ?  I  believe  him 
admirably  qualified  for  the  office,  in  point  of  talents,  acquire- 
ments, piety,  and  soundness  of  principles.  His  health,  too,  seems 
to  be,  in  a  considerable  degree,  restored.  His  voice  is  excellent. 
I  heard  him  make  one  of  the  best  missionary  addresses  to  which 
I  ever  listened,  at  the  late  Virginia  convention.  He  is  now  at 
Wilkesbarre,  and  can  be  readily  consulted ;  or,  if  you  approve  of 
him,  and  should  think  it  best  to  elect  him  without  previous  con- 
sultation, you  may  consider  this  as  my  nomination  of  him  to  the 
office.  }^^  f 

"  I  send  you  Tract  Ninety,  in  the  Oxford  series.  You  will 
not  wonder  at  its  drawing  down  the  official  interference  of  which 
we  have  heard. 

"  Yours,  affectionately  and  faithfully, 
;  "JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  foregoing  letters  are  introduced  together,  because  they 
were  addressed  to  the  same  correspondent,  and  appertained  to 
the  same  set  of  subjects.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  add,  so  far  as  the 
Milnor  professorship  was  concerned,  that  Dr.  May  was  compelled, 
by  the  serious  and  protracted  illness  of  his  wife,  to  decline  the 
nomination  which  he  received ;  and  that  Dr.  Milnor  subsequently 
nominated  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fuller,  then  of  Christ  church,  Andover, 
Massachusetts,  who  was  afterwards  elected,  and  became  Dr. 
Sparrow's  successor,    -  , 


HIS  MINISTRY.  553 

SECTION  V. 

Some  farther  letters  for  the  year  1841,  now  require  inser- 
tion. 

To  the  Rev.   Dr.  Beasley. 

"New  York,  March  17,  1841.  ■ 
"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  am  glad  you  are  so  well  pleased  with 
the  Christian  Observer,  for  which  my  own  fondness  is  such,  that 
I  have  long  been  in  possession  of  all  the  volumes  in  the  series, 
from  its  commencement  in  1802.  I  had  seen  it  for  several  years 
before  the  beginning  of  my  ministry.  About  that  time,  I  hap- 
pened to  have  a  conversation  with  the  venerable  Dr.  Wharton,  of 
Burlington,  N.  J.,  who  spoke  of  it  as  a  work  which  he  exceed- 
ingly admired,  and  constantly  read,  both  on  account  of  the  ortho- 
doxy of  its  views  on  the  doctrines  of  the  church,  and  for  the 
talent  with  which  it  was  then  conducted  by  Zachary  Macauley, 
Esq.  Mr.  Macauley  was  its  editor  for  the  first  fifteen  years 
of  its  career ;  since  which  time,  it  has  been  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Charles  Wilkes.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  both  these  excellent  men,  when  in  London,  in 
the  year  1830.  Mr.  Macauley  has  since  deceased.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  present  distinguished  member  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons of  that  name ;  and  from  the  extensiveness  of  his  reading 
and  acquirements,  was  called  'the  walking  library.'  I  think 
it  was  Lord  Bexley  who  spoke  to  me  of  his  astonishing  readiness 
in  giving  information  on  almost  ev^ry  subject  of  inquiry,  and 
said  nothing  was  more  common,  in  the  circle  of  their  acquaint- 
ance, when  all  others  were  posed  on  any  subject,  than  to  say, 
'  We  '11  ask  Zachary  Macauley ;  he  can  tell  us.'  He  was  a 
remarkably  plain,  unpromising  man  in  his  appearance ;  but  I 
can  truly  say,  I  derived  no  such  benefit  from  any  individual  in 
England  as  from  him,  in  the  frequent  interviews  with  which  he 
was  kind  enough  to  favor  me.  Mr.  Wilkes  was  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  pious  of  the  clergy,  with  whom  it  was  my  privi- 
lege to  become  acquainted ;  and  I  have  few  more  pleasing  volumes 
in  my  library  than  his  sermons,  with  which  he  presented  me, 
when  he  called  to  take  leave  of  me,  the  day  I  left  London. 

"  Edward  Tuckerman,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  intending  shortly  to 


554  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

visit  England,  and  having  written  me  for  letters  of  introduction, 
I  have,  among  others,  sent  him  one  addressed  to  Mr.  Wilkes,  and 
in  a  separate  communication,  which  he  will  hand  him,  I  have 
made  the  request  contained  in  your  letter. 

"  It  is  astonishing  to  what  an  extent  high-church  principles 
are  now  carried.  It  was  remarked  to  me,  by  the  late  Bishop  of 
Q,uebec,"  Bishop  Stewart,  "  on  one  of  his  passages  through  this 
city,  on  his  way  to  England,  that  he  heard  more  about  them  in 
a  three  days'  sojourn  in  New  York,  than  in  a  year's  residence  in 
London ;  and  the  late  venerable  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  though 
a  strict  churchman,  often  spoke  to  me,  in  terms  of  still  stronger 
disapprobation,  of  the  extravagant  views  of  some  with  whom  he 
acted,  than  he  has  done  in  his  published  works.  The  effects  of 
certain  influences  in  our  General  Seminary  are  very  deleterious 
on  the  unformed  minds  of  its  students.  The  disapproval  of  ex- 
treme views,  by  two  of  the  resident  professors,  has  but  little  effect 
in  preventing  those  views  from  being  embraced  by  the  young 
men,  under  the  more  direct  instruction  of  others ;  and  our  eccle- 
siastical paper,  by  flattering  them  with  the  reception  of  their 
productions,  and  with  compliments  from  its  editor,  has  a  most 
injurious  effect  on  their  minds.  Narrowness  of  feeling,  and  illib- 
erality  of  opinion,  in  relation  to  Christians  of  other  names,  are 
not  its  only  bad  effects.  Its  influence  in  inducing,  if  not  in  some 
instances  the  rejection,  at  least  a  diminished  esteem  of  those  evan- 
gelical doctrines  which  are  now  the  continual  subjects  of  assault 
from  the  Oxford  divines,  and  the  substitution  of  the  new  system 
exhibited  in  the  '  Tracts  for  the  Times,'  is  calculated  to  give  a 
most  dangerous  character  to  the  ministry  of  these  the  future 
standard-bearers  of  our  church.  For  one,  I  sincerely  rejoice  that 
your  veteran  pen  has  been  so  successfully  employed  in  exposing 
the  true  character  of  the  new  divinity ;  and  I  am  encouraged  to 
hope,  that  though  the  enemy  is  coming  in  like  a  flood,  yet  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  will  continue  to  lift  up  a  standard  against  him. 

"  What  the  expectations  of  Rome  are,  may  be  inferred  from 
the  oft-repeated  expressions  of  approval  of  the  Oxford  measures, 
with  which  the  Romish  publications  teem.  In  the  English  Cath- 
olic Magazine  for  1839,  its  editors  thus  express  themselves : 
'Most  sincerely  and  unaffectingly  do  we  tender  our  congratula- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  555 

« 

tions  to  our  brethren  of  Oxford,  that  their  eyes  have  been  opened 
to  the  evils  of  private  judgment,  and  the  consequent  necessity  of 
curbing  its  multiform  extravagance.  It  has  been  given  them  to 
see  the  dangers  of  the  ever-shifting  sands  of  the  desert,  in  which 
they  were  lately  dwelling,  and  to  strike  their  tents  and  flee  the 
perils  of  the  wilderness.  They  have  already  advanced  a  great 
way  on  their  return  towards  that  church  within  whose  walls  the 
wildest  imagination  is  struck  with  awe,  and  sobered  down  into 
a  holy  calm,  in  the  enjoyment  of  which  it  gladly  folds  its  wea- 
ried wings.  They  have  found  the  clue  which,  if  they  have  per- 
severance to  follow  it,  will  lead  them  safely  through  the  laby- 
rinth of  error  into  the  clear  day  of  truth.  Some  of  the  brightest 
ornaments  of  their  church  have  advocated  a  reunion  with  the 
church  of  all  times  and  all  lands ;  and  the  accomplishment  of  the 
design,  if  we  have  read  aright  '  the  signs  of  the  times,'  is  fast 
ripening.  Her  maternal  arms  are  ever  open  to  receive  back  re- 
pentant children ;  and,  as  when  the  prodigal  son  returned  to  his 
father's  house,  the  fatted  calf  was  killed  and  a  great  feast  of  joy 
made,  even  so  will  the  whole  of  Christendom  rejoice  greatly, 
when  so  bright  a  body  of  learned  and  pious  men  as  the  authors 
of  the  '  Tracts  for  the  Times '  shall  have  made  the  one  step  neces- 
sary to  place  them  again  within  that  sanctuary,  where  alone  they 
can  be  safe  from  the  moving  sands,  beneath  which  they  dread 
being  overwhelmed.  The  consideration  of  this  step  will  soon 
inevitably  come  on ;  and  it  is  with  the  utmost  confidence  that  we 
predict  the  accession  to  our  ranks  of  the  entire  mass.' 

"  I  trust,  my  dear  sir,  that  though  your  impaired  health  may 
continue  to  abstract  you  from  much  engagement  in  the  public 
duties  of  the  ministry,  yet  you  may  realize  to  better  effect  than  he 
did  by  whom  the  acknowledgment  was  uttered,  '  Deus  nobis  hcec 
otia  fecit  f  a  leisure  given,  in  your  case,  not  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
dolence or  self-indulgence,  but  to  enable  you,  from  the  stores  of  a 
matured  and  well-cultivated  mind,  to  assist  in  healing  some  of  the 
wounds  which  religion  and  the  Church  are  now  receiving  from 
those  who  profess  to  be  the  chief,  if  not  the  exclusive  friends  of  both. 
"  I  am,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  faithful  friend  and  brother, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 


556  ,  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  -^ 

'  •  During  the  spring  of  this  year  he  visited  Alexandria  to  attend 
the  i^ieeting  of  the  Virginia  convention,  intending  to  return  to 
New  York  in  company  with  his  friend  Bishop  Meade,  who  had 
made  arrangements  for  a  voyage  to  England  by  the  steamer  from 
Boston  of  the  first  of  June.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a 
letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  written  while  he  was  at  Alexandria,  and 
dated  May  21,  1841. 

"  Yesterday  morning,  Thursday,  I  preached  before  the  bishops 
and  convention  to  an  overflowing  audience,  and  last  night,  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church,  kindly  offered  for  the  use  of  the 
Episcopalians ;  the  two  churches  of  our  order  being  insufficient  to 
accommodate  the  immense  crowds  that  fill  the  city.  The  hos- 
pitality of  the  citizens  is  unbounded.  Every  house  of  Episcopa- 
lians, and  those  of  many  others,  are  filled  with  strangers."  [Such, 
at  that  period,  were  Virginia  conventions.] 

The  following,  from  his  "  old  friend"  Daniel  "Wilson,  reminds 
us  how  much  these  memoirs  have  suffered  from  the  elevation  of 
that  faithful  servant  of  Christ  to  the  see  of  Calcutta.  Many  of 
Dr.  Milnor 's  most  valuable  letters  were  addressed  to  him,  but 
their  removal,  with  his  other  papers,  to  India,  has  rendered  their 
recovery  for  our  purpose  impossible. 

"Bishop's  Palace,  Calcutta,  Sept.  16,  1841. 
"  My  dearest  old  Friend — I  see  an  old  letter  of  yours  on  my 
table  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  answered,  I  suppose 
from  a  dread  of  your  again  letting  parts  of  the  answer  slip  into 
the  newspapers.  I  am,  however,  unwilling  longer  to  delay  in- 
quiring after  you  and  yours  and  the  church  of  Christ  in  the 
United  States.  Your  Episcopal  church  has  produced  one  of  the 
most  splendid  and  valuable  works  in  divinity  that  I  have  ever 
read.  Nothing  since  your  Jonathan  Edwards  on  Justification 
and  Dean  Milner's  History  of  Luther,  has  at  all  come  near 
Bishop  McIlvaine.  I  have  read  his  masterly  treatise  with  un- 
mixed admiration,  and  shall  write  to  him,  I  hope  by  this  very 
mail,  to  thank  him  most  cordially.  A  twilight  sermon  of  my 
own  happened  to  come  out  just  before  the  bishop's  book,  but  was 
lost  in  his  brilliancy.  I  want  very  much  to  see  your  Episcopal 
almanacs,  convention  papers,  and  chief  works  in  divinity.     If 


HIS  MINISTRY.  557 

you  produce  a  few  such  theological  refutations  as  Bishop  Mc- 
Uvaine's,  your  country  will  rise  most  rapidly  in  religious  influ- 
ence. I  hope  our  mad  traditionists  are  not  corrupting  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  faith  amongst  you,  as  they  are  at  home,  and  in 
some  degree  in  India.  I  have  an  instinctive  dread  of  this  man  of 
SIN  under  the  guise  of  an  angel  of  light,  and  his  mystic  piety 
makes  no  impression  on  my  heart.  I  have  again  and  again 
wished  to  know  why  you  inundate  India  with  Presbyterian  mis- 
sionaries, but  do  not  refresh  us  with  even  a  sprinkling  of  Episco- 
palians ?  There  is  nothing  I  should  so  rejoice  in  as  to  welcome 
such  staid,  learned,  well-read,  evangelical  laborers  as  your  church 
would  furnish. 

, ,  "  "Well,  and  how  are  you  yourself,  my  dear  friend  ?  How 
well  do  I  remember  the  pleasant  times  we  spent  together  at 
Islington.  My  son  is  laboring  tliere  still,  with  twenty  helpers 
amidst  56,000  souls.  I  continue,  thank  God,  in  good  health  for 
my  years.  The  cause  of  Christ,  as  I  hope,  is  making  progress. 
The  events  of  the  world  are  conspiring  to  widen  the  British  ter- 
ritory and  influence.  Soon  will  the  end  come ;  and  may  we  stand 
in  our  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days, 

"  I  am  yours,  affectionately, 

"D.CALCUTTA." 
"TheREV.  Dr.  MiLNOR."  - 

The  year  1842  will  not  furnish  us  with  so  many  letters  as 
its  immediate  predecessor.  From  three  brief  communications 
addressed  to  Dr.  Milnor,  we  learn  that  he  was  during  the  year 
elected  one  of  the  Counsellors  of  the  Board  of  the  New  York 
Lyceum ;  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  University  of  New 
York  ;  and  President  of  the  New  York  City  Tract  Society,  one 
of  the  efficient  auxiliaries  of  the  American  Tract  Society.  The 
first  and  only  letter  from  him,  for  1842,  is  a  copy  of  his  answer 
to  that  just  given  from  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta ;  and  this  the 
only  copy  found  among  his  papers,  of  all  his  letters  to  that  in- 
teresting correspondent. 

"New  York,  July  2,  1842. 
"Right  Rev.  and  Belovei>— In  the  recent  receipt  of  your 
esteemed  letter  of  September  last,  I  was  much  delighted  to  be 


558  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

once  more  favored  with  a  token  of  your  continued  remembrance 
and  regard.  That  your  valuable  life  should  have  been  preserved 
for  a  period  so  much  longer  than  that  of  any  of  your  revered 
predecessors  in  the  Calcutta  episcopate,  and  that  your  health 
should  be  continued  in  a  climate  which  so  often  proves  unfavor- 
able to  Englishmen,  are  causes  of  devout  thankfulness  to  God, 
and  should  be  gratefully  recognized  as  a  pledge,  that  he  has  large 
blessings  in  store  for  his  Church  in  those  distant  regions.  We 
have  heard,  with  great  joy,  of  the  mighty  work  of  grace  which 
the  Holy  Spirit  is  accomplishing  through  British  agency  in  some 
places  under  your  jurisdiction.  May  the  Lord  encourage  your 
labors,  by  many  such  cheering  evidences  of  his  favor. 

"  You  inquire,  my  Rt.  Rev.  friend,  why  we  do  not  send  some 
Episcopal  missionaries  to  India  ?  The  answer  is  as  easily  given, 
as  the  fact  furnishing  that  answer  is  by  many  of  us  feelingly 
regretted.  All  the  efforts  of  such  of  our  highly  esteemed  bishops 
as  are  favorable  to  the  cause  of  foreign  missions — and  they  are 
a  large  proportion  of  the  whole — and  of  such  of  our  clergy  as 
have  like  feelings,  have  not  yet  been  successful  in  awakening 
such  a  spirit  among  us  as  adequately  to  supply  our  treasury  for 
so  desirable  an  extension  of  our  missionary  work.  I  have  been 
laboring  in  this  cause  for  five  or  six  and  twenty  years,  and 
though,  God  be  praised,  there  has  been  much  improvement  in 
our  church,  especially  during  the  last  six  or  seven  years,  under 
our  new  plan  of  operation,  yet  we  have  still  to  encounter  much 
opposition  from  certain  influential  quarters,  to  the  foreign  work ; 
and  our  means,  partly  from  this  cause,  and  partly  from  the  sad 
state  of  the  monetary  concerns  of  our  country,  have  allowed  us 
to  extend  but  little  the  existing  missions,  and  compelled  us  to 
withhold  the  establishment  of  any  entirely  new.  One  mission- 
ary at  Constantinople,  having  in  prospect  some  endeavors  in  favor 
of  the  Syrian  church ;  our  schools  in  Athens,  and  a  small  estab- 
lishment in  Crete;  a  single  but  excellent  missionary  in  China; 
four  or  five  clergymen  and  their  families  at  Cape  Palmas,  on  the 
western  coast  of  Africa ;  and  two  missionaries  in  Texas,  com- 
prise all  the  heralds  of  salvation  that  our  church  has  given  us  the 
means  of  sending  forth,  either  for  the  renovation  of  corrupt  Chris- 
tian communities,  or  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen.     Several 


HIS  MINISTRY.  559 

of  the  other  denominations  around  us  have  far  outstripped  us  in 
obedience  to  the  Saviour's  command. 

"There  is  undoubtedly,  as  you  are  aware,  a  vast  extent  of 
missionary  ground  in  our  own  country,  which  many — I  think 
mistakingly — consider  a  sufficient  reason  for  confining  ourselves 
exclusively  to  its  cultivation.  I  say  'mistakingly;'  for  I  have 
invariably  observed,  that  those  who  advocate  this  principle  are, 
even  in  their  contributions  to  the  domestic  department,  far  behind 
thdse  who  consider  the  field  marked  out  for  our  exertions  by  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church,  to  be  the  whole  world.  Just  in  pro- 
portion to  the  prevalence  of  vital  piety  in  our  congregations,  is 
the  missionary  spirit  seen  to  take  this  wide-extended  scope ;  and 
an  amount  of  contributions  of  a  corresponding  character,  to  be 
poured  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord.  While  the  increase  of  this 
spirit  among  us  is  a  continual  subject  for  ardent  prayer  and  sup- 
plication, I  do  exceedingly  rejoice  in  the  hope  that  the  noble 
Church  Missionary  Society  of  your  country,  under  its  new  aus- 
pices, may  be  favored  with  such  an  increase  of  means  as  will 
supply  our  lack  of  service  in  the  foreign  field,  so  many  parts  of 
which  have  been  already  blessed  by  the  evangelical  labors  of  that 
inestimable  institution. 

"Your  warm  approval  of  the  work  of  our  dear  friend  Bishop 
Mcllvaine,  is  exceedingly  grateful  to  my  feelings,  as  it  will  be  to 
his.  I  am  quite  confident,  there  is  no  one  whose  favorable  opinion 
he  would  more  highly  appreciate  than  your  own.  His  public 
testimony  against  Oxfordism,  supported  as  it  has  been  by  a  large 
proportion  -of  his  Episcopal  brethren  in  this  country,  has  had  a 
very  propitious  influence  on  the  public  mind. 

"It  is  an  evidence  of  the  limited  circulation  of  the  'Tracts' 
among  our  churches,  that  there  has  been  but  one  American  edi- 
tion of  them,  and  that  this  resulted  in  the  ruin  of  its  publisher. 
Out  of  ten  or  eleven  Episcopal  periodicals,  the  Churchman  is  the 
only  one  that  has  advocated  the  principles  of  the  authors  of  those 
pernicious  publications.  May  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  lift  up  a 
standard  everywhere  against  the  errors  of  these  misguided  and 
misguiding  teachers,  and  lead  even  themselves,  at  length,  into 
the  way  of  truth. 

"In  regard  to  the  general  state  of  the  Church  in  our  country, 


560  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

I  thank  God  that  I  am  enabled  to  say,  it  is,  in  its  external  cir- 
cumstances, prosperous  ;  and,  in  doctrinal  views  and  evangelical 
feeling,  improving.  "With  our  rapidly  growing  population,  its 
extension  keeps  tolerably  equal  pace  ;  and  the  divisions  in  some 
Protestant  denominations  have  tended  to  add  to  our  numbers. 
To  a  much  greater  extent  than  formerly,  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  Reformation  are  preached  to  our  congregations  ;  and  though 
in  some  places,  what  arc  called  the  distinctive  principles  of  the 
Church  are,  in  my  view,  suffered  to  occupy  too  much  attention, 
yet,  for  the  most  part,  I  believe  the  latter  are  allowed  only  their 
just  place  in  the  communications  of  the  pulpit.  A  few  of  our 
ministers  are  disposed  to  keep  up  a  spirit  of  controversy,  and  to 
decry  what  they  call  low-church manship  ;  but  on  the  whole,  there 
is  a  preference  for  the  things  that  make  for  peace.  None  are 
disposed  unduly  to  compromise  our  peculiarities  by  inadmissible 
mixtures  with  others  in  the  services  of  the  sanctuary ;  and  our 
church  commends  herself  to  the  regards  of  those  who  are  without, 
by  maintaining  towards  them  '  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond 
of  peace.' "  [Very  serious  would  have  been  his  modifications  of 
this  portion  of  his  letter,  had  he  lived  till  the  present  day.] 

"  Romanism,  however,  among  us  is  making  rapid  strides. 
Immense  numbers  of  immigrants  are  almost  daily  landing  on  our 
shores.  Of  these  the  major  part  are  from  Ireland,  and  almost  all 
of  that  church ;  as  are  also  multitudes  from  the  German  states. 
Large  importations  of  priests  are  constantly  arriving;  and  the 
popish  missionary  societies  of  Italy,  Austria,  and  France,  are 
pouring  their  thousands  annually  into  the  country  fo^  the  build- 
ing of  churches  and  the  support  of  the  priesthood.  When  I  came 
to  my  present  charge  in  1816,  there  were  but  two  Roman  Cath- 
olic churches  in  New  York.  Now  there  are  many,  and  several 
in  a  course  of  erection.  There  is  evidently  a  grand  effort  also  to 
acquire  a  foothold  in  our  great  western  country,  throughout 
which  popish  seminaries  of  learning  abound,  and  are  continually 
increasing  in  number.  Many  Protestant  children  are  improperly 
sent  to  them. 

"  And  now,  to  answer  your  kind  inquiries  in  relation  to  my- 
self: I  can  only  say,  that  I  continue,  at  the  age  of  nearly  three- 
score years  and  ten,  through  the  blessing  of  my  heavenly  Father, 


HIS  MINISTRY.  561" 

to  enjoy  excellent  health.  My  duties  are  the  same  as  heretofore. 
I  enjoy  the  continued  affections  of  a  large  congregation  ;  and  my 
labors  among  them  are,  from  time  to  time,  followed  by  pleasing 
fruits.  I  find  time,  in  l^e  midst  of  arduous  parochial  duties,  for 
an  engagement  in  the  missionary,  educational,  and  other  institu- 
tions of  our  church  ;  and  am  still  actively  employed  in  the  Bible, 
Tract,  and  Missionary  causes,  and  in  various  other  means  of  pubr 
lie  usefulness.  I  have  five  children  ;  a  son  and  a  daughter  mar- 
ried ;  and  with  two  sweet  grandchildren,  these  are  all'  residing 
with  me  in  St.  Greorge's  parsonage. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  transmitting  to  you  a  package,  con- 
taining such  publications  as  I  supposed  might  interest  you ;  and 
beg  you  to  accept  the  assurance  of  that  high  respect  and  sincere 
affection  with  which  I  remain, 

"  Your  faithful  friend,  . 

"  And  obedient  servant  in  the  Lord, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

At  the  opening  of  the  year  1843,  Dr.  Milnor  received  from 
his  friend  Bishop  Meade  a  letter,  the  following  extract  from 
which  will  serve  to  introduce  a  remark  touching  a  part  of  his 
course  as  one  of  the  members  of  the  Foreign  Committee  of  our 
Board  of  Missions.  ' 

"Millwood,  Jan.  30,  1843. 
*  "Rev.  and  dear  Brother — Besides  the  sincere  pleasure 
which  I  take  in  communicating  with  you  on  all  subjects  per-: ' 
taining  to  the  affairs  of  God's  Church,  I  have  a  particular  object 
in  addressing  you  at  this  time.  I  perceive  there  have  been  let- 
ters, proband  con,  as  to  our  missionary  establishments  in  Greece 
and  Asia,  especially  the  latter ;  and  fears  have  been  expressed 
that  we  are  not  presenting  there,  as  we  ought,  the  pure  Gospel^ 
but  are  conceding  too  much  to  prevalent  corruptions.  I  am  told 
that  the  cause  has  suffered  in  this  country  by  reason  of  such  ap- 
prehension ;  and  that  the  committee  have  not  been  altogether 
satisfied  for  some  time.  How  is  it  ?  I  have  always  thought  that 
the  attempt  to  introduce  our  missicmaries  into  those  old,  decayed 
churches,  was  so  delicate  and  difficult  a  task,  that  we  must  be 
slow  to  condemn  those  missionaries  for  any  cautious  movements 

Mem.  Milnor.  3  6 


562  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

which  they  might  make.  But  have  they  erred?  And  if  so,  how- 
far  ?  And  have  the  doubts  on  this  subject  seriously  injured  our 
collections  for  these  missions  ?  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from 
you  on  this  subject,  and  on  any  others  in  which  you  know  I  am 
interested. 

"  If  it  be  permitted  to  descend  from  such  a  height  to  speak  a 
word  about  myself  and  my  poor  body,  and  you  feel  any  interest 
in  it,  I  would  say  that  God  has  been  very  good  in  giving  me  a 
more  comfortable  state  of  health  than  I  have  had  for  nine  years. 
My  chief  defect,  that  of  voice,  still  remains ;  but  it  is  in  some 
measure  relieved  by  preaching  very  seldom,  and  contenting  my- 
self \Vith  official  duties  and  short  addresses  from  the  chancel.  My 
mind  also  is  much  relieved  by  having  so  valuable  an  assistant  as 
Dr.  Johns,  who  is  giving  great  satisfaction. 

"  Let  me  hear  from  you  as  soon  as  convenient. 

''  Affectionately, 

"W.  MEADK" 
"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor." 

What  answer  Dr.  Milnor  gave  to  the  former  part  of  the  above 
extract  is  unknown.  Not  so,  however,  his  opinion  on  the  subject 
involved.  In  common  with  his  fellow-members  of  the  Foreign 
Committee,  he  inclined  to  that  judgment  which  finally  expressed 
itself  in  the  well-known  unwillingness  of  the  committee  to  sus- 
tain the  Asiatic,  or  Constantinopolitan  mission  of  our  church. 
He  advocated,  as  long  as  he  could,  the  continuancje  of  that  mis- 
sion ;  and  acquiesced  in  its  continuance  as  long  as  he  could,  even 
after  his  judgment  began  to  lean  to  the  side  of  its  inexpediency. 
But  the  views  which  the  missionary  himself  advanced,  and  the 
measures  which  he  adopted,  at  length  settled  the  mind  of  Dr. 
Milnor,  and  he  gave  his  influence  to  that  action  of  the  committee 
which,  since  he  left  the  stage,  has  resulted  in  placing  the  mission 
on  a  new  and  separate  basis  of  its  own.  It  is  true,  that  the  want 
of  funds  was  the  reason  at  first  assigned  for  the  proposed  aban- 
donment of  the  mission ;  but  it  is  no  less  true,  that  this  want  of 
funds  was,  by  multitudes,  believed  to  be  the  consequence  of  a 
want  of  confidence  in  the  views  which  actuated  the  movement  at 
Constantinople ;  and  in  this  belief  the  Foreign  Committee  almost 
unanimously  concurred. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  563 

To  Bishop  Mcllvaine. 

"New  York,  March  10,  1843. 

"  My  dear  Bishop — I  am  under  the  impression  that  I  have 
answered  your  two  favors  of  last  year ;  or  rather,  I  have  been 
under  that  impression.  But  I  am  startled,  on  laying  my  hand 
upon  them  to-day,  to  find  no  endorsement  to  that  effect ;  and 
therefore  I  now  fear  that  I  have  been  mistaken,  and  that  I  must 
submit  to  the  charge  of  inexcusable  negligence.  In  regard  to 
all  that  relates  to  the  professorship,  I  am  glad  to  learn,  by  a  let- 
ter from  Dr.  Fuller,  that  he  has  accepted  the  appointment.  He 
wrote  me  that  he  should  not  go  to  Ohio  until  fall,  and  expressed 
a  desire  to  act  as  my  assistant  until  that  time.  But  Mr.  Cooke 
having  leave  of  absence  no  longer  than  to  the  15th  of  June,  and 
expecting  then  to  resume  his  station,  the  vestry  and  I  have  con- 
cluded that  it  is  not  best  to  make  an  appointment  for  the  short 
intermediate  period ;  and  even  if  it  had  been  otherwise,  it  would 
not  be  worth  while  for  Dr.  Fuller  to  come  to  New  York  for  that 
time.  I  entirely  approve  of  your  choice,  and  hope  you  and  he 
may  have  much  happiness  in  the  connection. 

"Of  the  prosperity  of  the  college  in  its  ' students,  study,  or- 
der, and  reputation,'  I  am  glad  to  hear,  but  regret  the  pecuniary 
difficulties  in  which  it  is  involved.  I  wish  it  were  in  New  York 
as  in  times  past,  so  that  you  might  receive  help  from  your  old 
partial  means  of  supply ;  but  every  thing  here,  in  the  way  of 
business,  seems  at  a  stand ;  and  many  of  the  friends  of  Kenyon, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  have  just  emerged  from  the  painful  process  of 
bankruptcy,  while  others  are,  as  to  means,  in  quite  a  different 
position  from  that  which  they  once  occupied.  Almost  all  my 
rich  men  have  gone  to  the  court  end  of  the  city,  or  remain 
with  us  in  cramped  and  impaired  circumstances.  I  exceedingly 
regret  that  among  your  Brooklyn  friends,  too,  so  many  have 
fallen  under  the  weight  of  the  pressure  which  has  come  upon 
them.  On  both  sides  of  the  river,  however,  some  still  hold  their 
own. 

"  I  have  little  ecclesiastical  news  to  communicate.  In  refer- 
ence to  Mar  Yohanan,  I  presume  you  have  seen  Bishop  Hopkins' 
views.  I  think  they  have  been  sufficiently  refuted.  Mar  Yohanan 
did  not  receive  much  Episcopal  attention,  except  from  our  lament- 


564  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ed  father,  Bishop  Griswold.    He  has  just  sailed,  with  Mr.  Perkins 
and  others,  for  Smyrna. 

"  It  is  intended  to  hold  a  semi-annual  meeting  of  the  Ameri- 
can Bible  Society  at  Cincinnati,  in  October  next.  "We  shall  be 
glad  to  have  your  approval  of  the  measure,  and  your  important 
assistance  at  the  meeting. 

"  We  have  been  much  pained  to  hear  that  your  son  Joseph's 
health  continues  to  decline.    I  am  well  and  strong  for  a  man  near 
threescore  and  ten,  but  must  expect  soon  to  break  down. 
"  Respectfully,  affectionately,  and  truly,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

From  Bishop   Mcllvaine. 

"Gambier,  April  6,  1843. 

"  Dear  Doctor — I  have  no  letter-paper,  and  cannot  get  any 
till  somebody  brings  some  from  New  York  ;  but  I  shall  not  im- 
pose on  you  a  whole  sheet  of  foolscap.  So  you  remembered,  at 
last,  to  answer  my  letters,  after  I  had  forgotten  they  had  been 
written.     Better  late  than  never. 

"  You  speak  of  a  semi-annual  Bible  Society  meeting  at  Cin- 
cinnati. I  shall  be  very  happy  to  do  what  I  can  to  promote  its 
usefulness.  It  is  a  good  idea.  The  Episcopal  clergy  in  Cincin- 
nati, and,  so  far  as  I  know,  all  in  the  diocese,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  will  unite  in  heart,  if  not  in  personal  attendance. 
The  more  the  Romish  doctrine  of  tradition  lifts  up  its  head,  the 
more  we  must  lift  up  our  standard  against  it  in  the  shape  of  the 
Bible,  distributed  as  Bible  societies  do  their  work.  It  is  David 
against  Goliath — ^the  sling  against, the  helmet,  and  shield,  and 
spear  of  a  giant.  But  the  difference  is,  that  God  is  on  one  side, 
and  not  on  the  other ;  and  the  truth  shall  make  men  free,  no 
matter  whose  servants  they  may  have  been. 

"  Our  difficulties  in  Kenyon  have  arisen  out  of  the  exceeding 
expensiveness  of  a  college  in  the  woods,  on  its  own  domain, 
where  every  thing,  even  to  a  shoemaker's  shop,  had  to  be  built 
by  the  trustees.  At  other  colleges,  the  village,  the  church,  etc., 
are  furnished  by  others,  and  the  houses  of  professors  may  be 
hired.  Here  we  had  to  build  every  thing.  Bishop  Chase's  great 
boast  was,  its  cheapness  to  students.     In  seeking  that,  he  failed  ; , 


HIS  MINISTRY.  565 

for  it  was  no  cheaper  than  some  other  colleges  in  Ohio,  and  he 
made  it  exceedingly  expensive  to  the  community. 

"  My  son  is  a  great  deal  better  in  health — about  as  well  as 
when  in  New  York. 

"  Yours,  very  affectionately, 

"  CHAS.  P.  McILVAINE." 
"The  Rev.  Dr.  MiLNOR." 

The  spring  of  1843  fouiid  Dr.  Milnor  again  at  the  annual 
convention  of  the  diocese  of  our  church  in  Virginia,  in  the  city 
of  Richmond,  and  as  usual,  abundant  in  his  pulpit-labors  during 
his  absence.  Like  all  his  visits  of  this  kind,  however,  it  has  no 
record,  save  in  the  customary  brief  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor,  inform- 
ing her  of  his  movements,  his  engagements,  and  the  day  of  his 
expected  return.  The  only  additional  reference  to  the  period  is 
in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Brigham,  of  the  American  Bible  Society, 
from  which  it  appears  that  Dr.  Milnor  was  duly  appointed  to 
represent  that  institution  before  the  Bible-meeting  in  Richmond, 
held  concurrently  with  that  of  the  Virginia  convention. 

During  this  same  spring  was  most  deeply  felt  the  alarm  which 
the  measures  of  the  Maryland  State  Colonization  Society,  in  en- 
forcing military  duty,  or  military  fines,  on  all  within  their  colo- 
ny, had  previously  spread  through  those  churches  at  home  which 
had  established  missionary  stations  on  that  part  of  the  African 
coast — an  alarm  which,  for  a  time,  threatened  to  set  the  Chris- 
tian community  of  the  free  states  in  hostile  array  against  the 
whole  cause  of  African  colonization. 

Fears  were  entertained,  that  it  would  become  necessary  to 
remove  our  mission  from  Cape  Palmas.  Our  Board  of  Missions 
therefore  instructed  its  foreign  committee  to  propose  conferences 
with  the  Maryland  State  Colonization  Society  at  Baltimore,  with 
a  view  to  the  possible  settlement  of  amicable  relations  between 
that  society  and  the  board.  In  pursuance  of  this  policy,  the 
foreign  committee  referred  the  instructions  of  the  board  to  a 
special  committee  of  two  of  its  members,  who,  after  a  previous 
conference,  conducted  on  our  part  by  the  secretary,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Vaughan,  and  one  of  the  missionaries,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Payne, 
were  directed  to  proceed  to  Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  a  further 
interview  and  a  more  satisfactory  understanding  with  the  agent 


566  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  the  State  Colonization  Society.  This  special  committee  was 
composed  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Milnor  and  Turner  ;  and  from  a  letter 
which  the  former  received  at  Baltimore,  it  would  seem  that  they 
held  the  further  conference  required  during  his  spring  excursion 
tq  the  South.  The  main  results  of  these  negotiations  was,  the 
undisturbed  continuance  of  our  Cape  Palmas  mission. 

The  summer  of  this  year  was  rendered  memorable  in  the 
annals  of  our  church  by  the  occurrence,  soon  after  the  annual 
Commencement  of  our  General  Theological  Seminary,  of  the 
famous  "  Carey  ordination,"  an  event  at  which  Drs.  Anthon  and 
Smith  protested  against  the  admission  to  deacon's  orders  of  a 
recent  graduate  from  the  seminary,  who  had  exposed  himself  to 
the  charge  of  holding  the  Tridentine  doctrines  of  the  church  of 
Rome.  The  convulsion  which  shook  our  church  upon  the  an- 
nouncement of  this  ordination,  was  altogether  unprecedented. 
Dr.  Milnor's  letters  to  his  correspondents  on  this  occasion,  have 
mostly  perished ;  but  one,  from  his  old  friend  Bishop  Meade,  will 
serve  as  an  early  expression  of  those  feelings,  among  the  evan- 
gelical portion  of  the  church,  in  which  Dr.  Milnor  fully  shared. 

"Millwood,  Aug.  1,  1843. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — We  have  fallen  upon  strange 
times.  "We  have  reached  a  fearful  crisis  in  the  Church.  I  had 
not  supposed  it  possible  that  Romanism  had  so  far  regained  its 
power  among  us,  as  recent  events  in  your  city  and  the  language 
of  some  of  our  religious  papers  would  indicate.  A  general  and 
distressing  contest  throughout  our  whole  church,  in  England  and 
America,  seems  now  inevitable.  May  Grod  give  us  all  grace  to 
perform  our  several  parts  faithfully  and  wisely.  I  should  like  to 
hear  from  you,  who  are  on  the  spot,  how  matters  stand.  I  trust 
our  brethren,  Anthon  and  Smith,  find  strong  supporters,  not  only 
among  the  laity,  but  also  among  the  clergy  in  your  city.  From 
some  New  York  papers  which  have  been  sent  me,  probably  by 
yourself,  I  perceive  the  laity  are  coming  out  boldly.  I  hope  the 
pamphlet  of  Drs.  Anthon  and  Smith  will  be  circulated  far  and 
wide,  to  every  clergyman,  at  least,  a  copy ;  and  I  wish  the  laity 
also  could  be  well  supplied. 
..     "I  saw,  a  few  days  since,  a  talented,  zealous  layman  of  a 


•  i'      HIS  MINISTRY.  -  567 

neighboring  diocese,  who  has  been  very  active  in  supporting  ultra 
views,  who  said,  after  reading  the  pamphlet,  he  was  truly  sur- 
prised at  it ;  and  unless  it  could  be  answered  and  disproved — and 
he  did  not  see  how  it  could — it  showed  a  state  of  things  which  he 
had  never  supposed.  The  card  of  the  six  presbyters  will,  I  pre- 
sume, satisfy  him  that  an  answer  and  refutation  are  not  very 
probable.  I  suppose  your  approaching  convention  will,  in  some 
way  or  other,  let  us  know  its  opinion  on  the  subject.  Our  next 
General  Convention  can  scarcely  avoid  some  agitation  on  the 
questions  involved. 

"  We  have  been  too  much  elated  by  our  prosperity.  Looking 
at  the  dissensions  of  other  denominations,  boasting  of  our  unity, 
and  proud  of  our  advantages,  we  calculated  on  uninterrupted 
and  unbounded  success,  without  relying  humbly  on  God's  bless- 
ing. The  result  has  been,  that  while  the  dissensions  of  others 
are,  in  a  good  measure,  healing,  and  we  have  contrived,  by  our 
exclusive  claims,  very  greatly  to  increase  and  combine  the 
opposition  of  all  others,  we  are  in  a  most  divided  state  among 
ourselves,  and  are  under  the  strongest  temptation  to  neglect  the 
more  important  spiritual  matters  for  controversy  about  externals. 
This  is  to  me  a  most  distressing  thought — that  bitter  controversy 
is,  in  many  of  us,  about  to  eat  out  the  soul  of  religion.  God 
have  mercy  on  us,  and  avert  the  evil. 

"  I  do  not  see  that  any  question  was  put  to  Mr.  Carey  about 
justification,  sacramental    grace,  etc. ;  on  which  points,  I  can 
scarce  think  that  one,  holding  his  views  on  other  points,  could  be 
received.     Let  me  hear  from  you  soon  and  fully. 
"  Yours,  very  truly, 

"W.  MEADE." 
"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor." 

Another,  a  month  later,  from  Bishop  Smith,  contains  a  charac- 
teristic allusion  to  the  same  subject. 

"KaloramAj  near  Louisville,  Sept.  1,  1843. 

"  Dear  Friend  of  my  early  Ministry — Brother  Jackson  tells 

me  that  you  are  to  be  in  Cincinnati  about  the  1st  of  November. 

God  willing,  so  am  I.     He  also  says,  that  he  invited  you  to  come 

and  see  me  as  well  as  him.     I  thank  him  for  it ;  and  I  now  write 


568  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

specially  to  urge  this  request,  and  that  you  will  accompany  me 
as  far  as  Shelby  ville,  where  I  will  take  you  in  our  little  carriage, 
in  order  that  the  early  friend  of  Christian  and  Church  education 
at  the  West  may  see  what  Grod  has  enabled  us  to  begin  in  Ken- 
tucky. So  dark  a  cloud  has  long  brooded  over  this  horizon,  that 
I  want  such  a  friend  as  you  to  come  and  have  it  in  your  power 
to  say  that,  through  the  divine  clemency,  daylight  again  dawns 
upon  us.  Besides,  your  presence  will  give  a  new  impalse  to  all 
our  affairs.  Do  come,  kind  doctor,  do ;  and  may  God's  presence 
come  with  you. 

"I  was  present  with  you  in  spirit  in  blessed  old  St.  John's, 
Providence,  on  that  day."  [An  allusion,  probably,  to  the  day  of 
Bishop  Henshaw's  consecration.]  "0,  by  how  many  cherished 
memories  is  that  temple  sacred  to  me !  I  was  witness  of  the 
lirst  revival  of  religion  there,  and  in  Bristol.  The  stripling  Hen- 
shaw  was  instrumental  in  the  revival,  during  which— chiefly 
however  among  the  Congregationalists — the  mere  boy,  Ben 
Smith,  was  brought  to  serious  reflection.  Our  venerable  father," 
Bishop  Griswold,  "  is  gone ;  but  we  his  sons  are  left  to  toil  and 
suffer :  Bishop  Henshaw  in  the  very  field  which  witnessed  his 
prayers  and  his  victories,  and  Bishop  Smith  in  a  far-off"  field, 
where  unheard-of  trials  have  awaited  him.  So  God  works. 
'  Even  so.  Father ;  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight !' 

"  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose  the  latchet  of  Bishop  Griswold's 
shoes;  but,  thank  God,  I  am  still  most  thoroughly  of  his  school., 
"We  have  strange  wonders  in  our  days.  Some  of  our  Episcopal- 
ians are  half  Romanists  ;  and  some  of  our  high -churchmen  are 
low,  while  some  of  the  low  are  high.  Of  all  sorts,  however, 
find  me  out  a  consistent  Bishop  Griswold,  and  an  unchangeable 
rector  of  old  St.  George's. 

"  These  are  storms,  the  flashes  of  which  we  see  afar  off",  and 
the  roar  whereof  faintly  reaches  us,  but  of  which  we  know 
almost  nothing.  Our  comfort  is,  that  Christ  changes  not ;  that 
his  truth  never  changes ;  and  that  he  is  Prince  of  the  kings  of 
the  earth,  be  the  people  never  so  unquiet.     The  Church  is  safe ! 

"If  Mrs.  Smith,  or  brother  and  Mrs.  Jackson,  who  are  on  a 
visit  to  us,  knew  that  I  was  writing  to  you,  this  letter  would  be 
so  heavily  freighted  with  love  and  respects  to  Mrs.  Milnor  and 


HIS  MINISTRY.  569 

yourself,  to  Henry  and  his  lady,  to  your  daughters,  and  to  all, 
that  the  frail  paper  could  not  contain  it.     Ever,  as  of  old, 
"  Your  true  friend  and  brother, 

"B.  B.  SMITH." 
"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor." 

Dr.  Milnor's  answer  to  this  affectionate  epistle  contains  the 
only  reference  to  '■''the  Carey  ordination,''^  and  its  consequences, 
to  be  met  with  in  his  recovered  letters.  It  also  intimates  his  in- 
ability to  attend  the  semi-annual  Bible  Society  meeting  at  Cin- 
cinnati, to  which  former  letters  refer,  and  at  which  he  had  been 
appointed  to  read  an  essay  on  " The  Rule  of  Faith;"  the  design 
of  the  essay  being  to  advocate  the  Protestant  doctrine  on  that 
subject,  in  opposition  to  the  Romish  views  of  Tradition.* 

*  The  following  is  Dr.  Milnor's  letter  to  the  Secretary,  announcing  his 
inability  to  attend  the  meeting  at  Cincinnati,  and  expressive  of  his  views  on 
the  occasion.     It  will  be  read  with  interest. 

"  St.  George's  Rectory,  New  York,  Oct.  20,  1843. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — ^You  may  be  assured  that  the  impracticability  of  my 
accompanying  you  to  Cincinnati  is  to  me  a  subject  of  most  sincere  regret. 
Concurring,  as  I  did,  heartily  in  the  expediency  of  the  interesting  measure  of 
holding  a  special  meeting  of  our  noble  institution  in  that  region,  and  having 
been  honored  as  one  of  its  delegates,  in  connection  with  a  particular  duty  of 
an  important  character,  my  disappointment  is  only  alleviated  by  the  persuasion 
that  there  will  be  no  want  of  far  better  counsellors  than  myself  in  the  general 
transactions  of  your  meeting,  and  that  the  performance  of  the  special  duty 
referred  to,  by  my  learned  and  respected  alternate,  will  afford  the  assemblage 
no  reason  to  regret  my  absence,  which  I  trust  will,  by  none,  be  attributed 
either  to  any  diminution  of  interest  in  the  cause,  or  reluctance  in  the  most 
public  manner  to  avow  my  most  earnest  desires  for  its  promotion. 

"However  small  the  measure  of  my  past  eflForts,  the  retrospect  of  thirty 
years'  engagement  in  the  work,  twenty-seven  of  them  in  immediate  connection 
with  the  American  Bible  Society,  is  among  the  highest  satisfactions  of  my 
now  declining  years. 

"It  was  under  the  auspices  and  at  the  solicitation  of  my  late  venerable 
friend  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  that  I  first  united,  in  my  native  city, 
with  the  Bible  Society,  over  which  he  presided  with  so  much  dignity  and 
devotion  until  his  lamented  death.  On  my  removal  to  New  York,  a  few  months 
after  the  formation  of  the  national  institution,  one  of  the  earliest  duties  of  my 
new  residence  was  to  tender  my  humble  aid  in  the  advancement  of  the  glorious 
cause  through  this  great  instrumentality. 

"I  now  bless  God  that  he  has  allowed  me  for  so  long  a  period  to  be  a  wit- 
ness of  the  delightful  harmony  with  which  its  proceedings  have  been  con- 
ducted, and  the  ever- widening  scope  of  its  salutary  influence ;  and  to  unite  in 


570  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

\- 

To  Bishop  Smith.  -"ni-ijf 

"  New  York,  October  2,  1843. 
"Rt.  Rev,  and  dear  Sir — I  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  kind 
favor  of  the  1st  ult.,  and  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  accept 
your  obliging  invitation.  But  I  find  I  am  unable  to  comply  with 
the  wishes  of  our  Bible  friends,  in  making  the  proposed  visit  to 
Cincinnati ;  and  consequently  must  defer,  to  some  future  period, 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  at  your  pleasant  residence  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Louisville.  An  unexpected  and  indispensable 
journey  of  business  to  Buffalo,  from  which  I  returned  a  few  days 
since,  forms  one  difficulty  in  the  way  of  my  leaving  home  again 
this  fall.  But  added  to  this,  I  fear,  at  my  time  of  life,  taking  so 
long  a  trip  at  such  an  advanced  season  of  the  year.  Besides, 
were  I  younger  and  better  fitted  for  it,  there  is  another  great 
impediment,  arising  out  of  the  pressingly  heavy  duties  of  my 
parochial  charge,  in  which,  for  the  last  nine  months,  I  have  been 

the  inspiring  hopes  of  its  friends  for  its  becdining  in  future  years  a  still  greater 
blessing  to  our  beloved  country  and  to  the  destitute  in  foreign  lands. 

"  If  there  were  sufficient  reasons  for  the  organization  of  this  plan  by  the 
Parent  Society  in  England — and  the  great  Author  of  the  Bible  by  vouchsafing 
a  most  abundant  blessing  upon  its  measures,  I  feel  assured,  has  sanctioned 
such  a  conclusion — ^we  have  the  like  reason  to  believe,  that  his  providence 
and  Spirit  led  to  our  following  their  good  example ;  and  that  in  contributing 
the  most  vigorous  efforts  for  continuing  and  extending  the  work,  we  are  acting 
in  conformity  to  his  holy  will,  and  acceptably  promoting  his  designs  of  mercy 
to  our  fallen  world.  Never  were  the  signs  of  the  times  more  indicative  of  the 
necessity  of  more  labor,  and  prayer,  and  pecuniary  means  for  carrying  forward 
our  hallowed  undertaking.  The  dishonor  done  to  the  book  of  God,  by  putting 
an  uncertain  tradition  upon  a  level  with  it  as  a  rule  of  faith,  is  no  longer 
confined  to  the  corrupt  church  which  has  so  long  been  guilty  of  that  crying 
sin;  individuals  of  other  communions  not  hesitating  to  embrace  the  same 
ruinous  error. 

"One  of  the  most  effectual  methods  of  counteracting  this  impious  treat- 
ment of  God's  mercifxil  revelation,  wherever  it  may  obtain,  is  the  universal 
circulation  of  that  blessed  book  which  is  its  own  best  witness,  and  wherever 
read,  with  prayer  for  the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  its  perusal,  will  establish 
its  claim  as  the  only  and  exclusive  test  of  Christian  faith  and  practice. 

"  May  tlie  Lord  be  with  you  in  your  coming  deliberations,  and  shed  on  all 
your  minds  the  enlightening  influences  of  his  grace. 

"With  my  earnest  prayers  for  the  happiest  results  to  your  meeting,  I  am, 
reverend  and  dear  sir,  your  faithful  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

"  JAMES  MILNOR." 
■'     "  Rev.  Dr.  Briqha>i." 


HIS  MINISTRY.  571 

■wholly  without  assistance.  My  prayers  and  best  wishes  will 
attend  our  beloved  brethren  who  go  on  to  the  expected  meeting. 
I  pray  God  the  occasion  may  be  one  of  signal  benefit  to  our 
great  cause. 

"We  live  in  eventful  times.  The  changes  in  opinion — in  too 
many  instances,  as  I  think,  for  the  worse — that  are  continually 
occurring  around  us,  are  not  a  little  alarming.  Recent  develop- 
ments here  afford  reason  to  believe,  that  to  a  greater  extent  than 
we  had  imagined,  the  Oxford  heresy  has  invaded  this  diocese. 

The  noxious  influence  of  the has  exceedingly  corrupted 

the  minds  of  our  younger  clergy  and  candidates  for  orders; 
and  indeed  I  am  grieved  to  the  heart,  to  find  such  a  tendency  to 
Romanism  as  prevails  among  some  of  the  more  advanced  in 
years  and  standing.  When  I  speak  thus,  I  do  not  mean  that 
any  are  prepared  to  go  over  to  the  '  mother  of  abominations.' 
To  remove  such  a  suspicion,  they  call  her  hard  names,  and  speak 
strongly  against  some  of  her  doctrines.  But  the  danger  lies  in 
their  exaltation  of  the  Church  above  Christ,  the  great  Head ; 
making  her,  and  not  Him,  the  dispenser  of  renewing  and  sancti- 
fying grace,  and  giving  to  external  sacraments  and  ordinances 
the  inherent  efficacy  which  constitutes  so  much  of  the  supersti- 
tion of  the  papacy.  They  do  not  mean — ^until  a  great  many 
impediments  are  removed — to  unite  with  Rome  ;  but  on  the 
principles  of  Tract  No.  Ninety,  they  adopt,  as  the  means  of 
allaying  such  a,  desire,  the  expedient  of  giving  an  aspect  to  our 
doctrines  and  observances,  that  shall  approximate  them  as  nearly 
as  possible  to  hers.  The  evangelical  doctrines  which  some  of 
us  have  supposed  were  plainly  taught  in  our  articles,  more  fully 
explicated  in  our  homilies,  and  embodied  in  their  life-giving 
spirit  in  our  liturgy^  are  now  to  be  superseded  by  the  dogmas  of 
the  school  at  Oxford.  The  great  principle  of  justification  by 
faith  is  by  many  virtually  abandoned,  and  that  of  baptismal 
justification  adopted  in  its  stead.  God  is  impiously  confined,  in 
his  commimication  of  grace,  to  the  channel  of  the  sacraments ; 
and  a  most  unwarrantable  denial  of  covenanted  mercy  to  all  but 
the  members  of  a  church  enjoying  the  Episcopal  succession,  is 
insisted  on.  The  Reformation  is  now  found  to  have  bieen  fraught 
with  evils;  and  instead  of  adhering  to  its  great  principles,  we 


572  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

are  to  condemn  its  authors  for  having  taken  dangerous  liberties, 
and,  as  far  as  possible,  to  unprotestantize  the  Church.  Such, 
among  us,  has  been  the  baneful  influence  of  Tractarianism,  as 
upheld  and  taught  by  too  many  in  this  most  unevangelical 
portion  of  the  Church.  God  grant  that  they  may  find  successful 
opponents  in  other  and  better  instructed  dioceses.  I  confess  I 
am  grieved  and  alarmed  beyond  measure,  and  especially  since 
our  convention,  which  has  just  adjourned,  and  in  which  the  pro- 
ceedings in  the  case  of  young  Carey  have  been  sustained  by  a 
large  majority  of  the  clergy,  and  by  an  unexpectedly  large  num- 
ber of  the  laity.  You  will,  no  doubt,  in  the  secular  papers  of  the 
past  week,  see  the  full  details  of  our  stormy  session;  particularly 
the  melancholy  exhibition  of  passion  on  the  part  of  our  bishop, 
near  its  close.  I  was  not  present  at  the  disgraceful  scene,  being 
engaged  in  a  quiet  lecture  to  the  good  people  of  my  charge ;  nor 
have  I,  save  by  a  silent  vote,  taken  any  part  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  convention :  the  speakers  on  the  side  of  Messrs.  Smith  and 
Anthon,  being  all  of  them  eminent  lawyers,  and  men  who  have 
not  hitherto  sustained  any  other  character  than  that  of  avowedly 
high-churchmen. 

"  Though  much  cast  down  in  spirit  by  the  opposition,  so 
extensively  prevalent,  to  what  the  Lord  has  taught  me  to  believe 
to  be  Bible-truth,  yet  I  still  have  faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph  of 
correct  principles.  For  one,  I  will  still  pray,  and  labor,  and  hope  ; 
and  amidst  all  discouragements,  rejoice  that  the  Lord  reigneth. 
I  feel  my  mind  greatly  soothed  and  comforted  by  the  blessed  com- 
munion which  we  yesterday  enjoyed  in  'old  St.  George's;'  where, 
at  least,  for  the  few  remaining  years  of  the  ministry  of  its  rector, 
Christ  and  him  crucified  will,  I  trust,  continue  to  be  preached. 

"With  Mrs.  Milnor's  and  my  best  regards  to  yourself  and 
Mrs.  S.,  believe  me, 

"Affectionately,  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

In  this  letter  he  speaks  of  a  recent  journey  to  Buffalo  on 
business.  This  business,  however,  was  not  connected  with  any 
public  agency.  The  following  extract  of  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Milnor 
gives  a  lively  idea  of  the  fatigues  which,  at  seventy  years  of  age, 
he  endured  in  reaching  the  place  of  his  destination. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  573 

''Buffalo,  Sept.  21,  1843. 

"  My  dear  Ellen — I  arrived  at  Troy  after  dark,  in  a  heavy  fall 
of  rain,  and  immediately  took  the  cars  for  Schenectady  and  Utica, 
travelling  all  night.  The  next  day  we  continued  our  course  to 
Rochester ;  but  in  consequence  of  having  Governor  Bouck  and 
Ex-President  Van  Buren  with  us,  we  were  detained  at  every 
town  through  which  we  passed,  to  afford  the  latter  an  opportu- 
nity for  canvassing  with  the  people,  for  his  expected  promotion 
to  the  presidency.  They  were  going  to  the  agricultural  fair  and 
cattle-show  at  Rochester.  We  arrived  there  at  nine  o'clock  on 
Tuesday  night,  and  found  the  town  full  of  people,  brought 
thither  by  the  occasion.  I  intended  to  continue  on  to  Buffalo ; . 
but  it  was  announced,  that  the  cars  would  not  proceed  until 
morning.  Fatigued  as  I  was,  I  had  to  traverse  the  whole  city 
to  obtain  lodgings,  and  then  failed.  At  length,  through  the 
charity  of  one  of  the  laboring  men  at  the  railroad  depot,  I 
obtained  a  clean,  comfortable  bed;  and  the  train  not  starting 
till  five  o'clock,  I  had  some  hours  of  sleep.  I  reached  Buffalo 
between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  of  Wednesday. 
"  Yours,  affectionately, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 
From  the  Rev.  Dr.  Aydelott. 
"Woodward  College,  Cincinnati,  Nov.  29,  1843. 

"  Dear  Brother — We  were  all  much  disappointed  by  your 
not  coming  to  the  late  meeting  of  the  Bible  Society  in  this  city. ; 
But  from  Dr.  Brigham's  account,  I  suppose  it  would  have  been 
imprudent  for  you  to  venture  upon  so  long  a  journey  during  this 
peculiarly  inclement  fall.  Your  alternate.  Dr.  Spring,  did  nobly. . 
His  essay  was  learned,  logical,  and  to  my  mind,  conclusive: 
clothed  in  a  style  perfectly  clear  and  neat,  and  breathing  through- 
out a  spirit  eminently  Christian.  I  hope  it  will  be  speedily  pub- 
lished, and  widely  circulated ;  as  it  cannot  fail,  with  the  divine 
blessing,  of  doing  much  good.  Still,  I  would  rather  have  had  a 
paper  from  you ;  because,  besides  its  general  argument,  you 
could  have  given  it  a  most  salutary  bearing  upon  the  particular 
state  of  our  church.  Why,  indeed,  can  you  not  let  your  essay, 
which  I  suppose  you  prepared,  go  out  to  the  world  ?  Certainly 
there  is  great  need  of  argument  and  information  on  the  subject 


574  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MlLNOR 

of  '  the  rule  of  faith^  in  these  days  of  nascent  Tractarianism  and 
reviving  Romanism.  There  is  a  straightforward,  candid,  com- 
mon-sense way  of  handling  subjects,  which  preeminently  belongs 
to  you,  and  which  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  engage  the  popular 
mind,  and  carry  conviction  to  the  popular  judgment.  I  should 
anticipate  the  best  results  from  such  an  effort  on  your  part. 
"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"  And  servant  in  Christ, 

«B.  P.  AYDELOTT." 
"The  Rev.  Dr.  MiLNOR." 

During  the  fall  of  this  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Irving,  our  foreign 
secretary  and  general  agent,  was  invited  to  assist  Dr.  Milnor 
in  the  labors  of  St.  Greorge's,  and  continued,  more  or  less  con- 
stantly; his  valuable  services  during  the  remainder  of  the  rector's 
life.  The  following  brief  note  is  a  pleasing  memento  of  the  asso- 
ciation into  which  he  was  thus  brought. 

"  MissiONAkY-RooMs,  Monday,  Dec.  4,  1843.     , 
"Rev.  akd  dear  SiR-^Ibeg  leave  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  very  kind  note  of  this  morning,  with  the  accompanying 
check. 

"  It  is  very  gratifying  to  me  to  learn  that  my  services  are  at 
all  acceptable ;  and  I  can  say  with  all  truth,  that  even  were 
there  no  emolument  derived  from  them,  I  should  render  the  same 
services  with  the  greatest  readiness  and  pleasure.  My  employ- 
ment at  St.  George's  has  given  me  a  delightful  spiritual  home, 
and  relieved  me  from  the  chief  source  of  concern,  arising  out  of 
my  separation  from  pastoral  duty.  I  consider  it  not  the  least 
among  the  many  marks  of  the  divine  goodness  towards  me,  that 
I  have  been  thus  brought  into  this  frequent  intercourse  with 
yourself  and  your  flock. 

"  I  am,  most  faithfully  and  affectionately,  yours, 

.  "PIERRE  P.  IRVING." 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor."  -  . 

The  remark  ought  not  to  be  omitted,  that  to  both  the  breth- 
ren who,  for  a  considerable  part  of  the  last  ten  years  of  hiS  life, 
acted  as  his  assistants  in  St.  George's — the  Rev.  J.  "W.  Cooke 
and  Mr.  Irving — Dr.  Milnor  was  most  truly  attached.     With 


HIS   MINISTRY.  575 

none,  perhaps,  could  he  have  held  more  cordial,  or  more  broth- 
erly intercourse ;  and  from  few,  if  any,  could  he  and  his  flock 
have  received  more  acceptable  auxiliary  labors. 

His  correspondence  for  the  year  1843,  so  far  as  available  for 
our  present  purpose,  closed  with  the  following  short  letter. 

From  the  Rev.  James  Haldane  Stewart. 

"St.  Bride's,  Liverpool,  Dec.  6,  1843. 
"  Very  dear  Brother — I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your 
kind  letter,  introducing  your  friends  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler  and 
his  lady,  whom  we  were  happy  to  see  at  our  table,  having  before 
cdmmunicated  with  them  at  the  supper  of  our  blessed  Lord. 

"  It  gave  us  sincere  pleasure  to  hear  from  him  that  you  were 
still  active  in  our  divine  Master's  service.  May  you  abound  more 
and  more  in  every  good  word  and  work,  and  may  your  last  days 
be  your  best  days. 

"  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  my  invitation  for  a  general  concert 
of  prayer  on  the  first  of  January.  I  hope  it  may  be  in  time.  If 
not,  you  may,  perhaps,  have  seen  it  more  seasonably  in  the 
London  Record,  or  in  some  of  our  religious  magazines.  I  had 
expected  to  send  it  by  a  steam  packet.  Perhaps,  after  reading 
the  invitation,  you  will  have  the  kindness  to  send  it,  for  insertion, 
to  one  of  your  religious  papers. 

"  Believe  me,  to  remain,  my  dear  friend, 

"  Yours",,  very  affectionately, 

"J.  HALDANE  STEWART." 
"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor." 


SECTION  VI. 

The  opening  of  the  year  1844  was  signalized,  in  the  life  of 
Dr.  Milnor,  by  an  attack  of  his  old  complaint,  which,  like  that 
of  the  year  1825,  brought  him  to  the  verge  of  the  grave.  For 
weeks,  his  friends  and  the  church  stood  trembling  with  solici- 
tude, as  life  and  death  seemed  to  hang  again  in  uncertain  balance ; 
leaving  it  doubtful,  from  day  to  day,  which  would  preponderate. 
Again,  therefore,  as  in  former  days,  prayer  was  made  unceas- 
ingly for  him,  by  individuals  and  in  the  churches ;  and  again, 


576  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.  '       , 

as  in  that  memorable  crisis,  prayer  prevailed  with  God,  and 
life  was  once  more  prolonged  to  this  his  faithful  servant.  A  few 
extracts  from  letters  which  he  received  soon  after  his  recovery, 
famish  pleasing  evidences  of  the  strength  and  tenderness  of  the 
feeling  which  his  peril  had  inspired. 

From  the  Rev.  P.  P.  Irving. 

"Charleston,  South  Carolina,  Feb.  17,  1844. 
"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  have  been  exceedingly  concerned  to 
hear  of  the  relapse  which  you  suffered  after  my  departure  from 
New  York ;  and  most  gladly  would  I  have  returned,  in  order  to 
relieve  you  by  my  presence  from  all  anxiety  about  the  parish, 
had  I  not  feared  that  I  might  be  thought  negligent  of  my  official 
duty.  Indeed,  I  wished  to  defer  my  departure  until  you  were 
more  thoroughly  recovered ;  but  having  made  all  arrangements, 
any  delay  might  have  been  ascribed  to  my  known  disinclination 
to  a  long  journey.  I  am  glad,  however,  to  learn  that  you  are 
rapidly  recovering ;  and  I  pray  God  that  you  may  be  spared  yet 
longer  to  your  flock  and  to  the  Church.  Truly,  the  latter,  to 
human  eye,  could  ill  afford  to  lose  any  of  its  true  sons  at  this 
moment  of  confusion  and  excitement." 

From  Bishop  Eastburn. 

"Boston,  March  6,  1844. 
"My  dear  Friend — ^An  intention,  long  cherished,  to  address 
a  few  lines  to  you  from  this  my  new  home  and  field  of  labor,  is 
now  quickened  by  the  desire  which  I  feel  to  congratulate  you  on 
your  recent  recovery  from  severe  and  dangerous  illness.  I  am 
filled,  as  I  humbly  trust,  with  gratitude  to  God  that  he  has 
spared  you  for  yet  further  services  to  his  Church,  at  this  period  of 
her  searching  trials.  Little  can  we  afford  to  lose  at  such  a  time, 
if  ever,  those  of  God's  ministering  servants  who  are  true  to  the 
gran^  essentials  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  those  standards  of  our 
church  which  so  unequivocally  set  forth  the  Gospel.  May  you 
live,  my  dear  friend,  to  see  the  present  cloud  passing  away,  and 
to  witness  the  triumph  of  our  scriptural  communion  over  princi- 
ples which,  if  generally  prevalent,  would  reduce  us  to  a  condition 
little  different  from  that  of  the  dark  ages  :  to  a  body  without  a 
soul,  a  shell  without  the  kernel. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  577 

Another  from  the  Rev.   Mr.   Irving. 

"New  Orleans,  14th  March,  1844. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — A  very  long  time  had  elapsed  without 
any  intelligence  from  New  York ;  and  as  my  last  advices  spoke 
of  your  very  serious  illness,  I  was  suffering  great  disquietude  on 
your  account.  But  I  have  this  moment  been  put  in  possession 
of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Denison,  of  the  4th  inst.,  in  which  he  delights 
me  by  saying,  that  he  had  that  day  seen  you  in  your  study  '  quite 
yourself  again.'  I  hardly  know  how  to  express  the  emotions  of 
joy  and  gratitude  with  which  I  have  read  this  letter.  I  had  been 
filled  with  sad  forebodings  of  mournful  intelligence.  I  had  been 
thinking  of  all  that  we  should  lose  in  the  Church,  and  especially 
in- our  Foreign  Conimittee,  should  it  please  God  to  take  you  to 
himself.  And  now,  my  joy  is  in  proportion  to  the  depression 
under  which  I  had  been  laboring.  My  heart  instinctively  blessed 
Grod  that  he  has  seen  good  to  spare  you  yet  a  while  to  his  Church. 
*  To  depart  and  be  with  Christ '  would,  indeed,  for  you,  be  '  far 
better;'  yet,  I  am  persuaded,  that  for  us,  it  is  'more  needful' 
that  you  should  'abide  in  the  flesh.'  And  so  think  many,  very 
many  of  God's  people.  Everywhere  have  I  found  men  inquiring 
about  you  with  the  greatest  solicitude  ;  and  this  moment,  while 
on  my  return  from  the  post-office  with  Mr.  Denison's  letter  open 
in  my  hand,  I  met  one  who,  hearing  the  news,  thanked  God 
aloud  for  this  mercy  to  his  Church. 

"  To  me,  my  venerable  friend,  it  is  a  matter  of  deep  personal 
gratitude.  "When  I  came  to  New  York  last  summer,  as  my  place 
of  abode,  I  returned  to  the  home  of  my  youth;  yet,  alas,  I  felt 
myself  almost  a  stranger.  Spiritually,  I  seemed  to  be  alone.  But 
your  kindness  relieved  me  from  the  loneliness ;  while  I  every  day 
felt  thankful  that  God  had  brought  me  into  such  frequent  inter- 
course with  you,  to  be  cheered  and  refreshed  by  your  society." 

During  his  long  illness,  and  the  absence  of  Mr.  Irving,  the 
pulpit  of  St.  George's  was  very  acceptably  filled  by  that  amiable 
and  serious  young  minister  of  Christ,  the  Rev.  "William  H.  Wal- 
ter, now  no  more.  After  his  recovery  and  return  to  duty.  Dr. 
Milnor  made  a  suitable  acknowledgment  of  his  indebtedness  and 

Uem.Mfliu>r.  37 


578         '  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

attachment  to  this  estimable  young  brother,  which  drew  from  the 
latter  a  note,  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract. 

"15  University  Place,  April  17. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — In  the  evening  I  received  your  note 
with  its  accompaniments.  I  desire  to  acknowledge  your  prompt 
and  liberal  remuneration  of  the  services  which  it  has  been  my 
privilege  to  render  you  during  your  illness.  With  still  greater 
pleasure  do  I  accept  the  token  of  your  personal  esteem  with 
which  you  have  favored  me.  Most  beautiful  and  valuable  in 
itself,  the  gift  has  a  still  higher  value  in  my  eyes,  as  the  expres- 
sion, which  you  have  made  it,  of  the  Christian  regard  and  affec- 
tion towards  me,  entertained  by  one  so  much  my  senior  in  years, 
and  so  justly  honored  and  venerated  in  the  Church.  In  return, 
sir,  I  can  only  reciprocate  from  my  heart  the  sentiments  of  attach- 
ment which  you  have  expressed,  and  renew  to  you  the  assurance 
that  my  temporary  connection  with  yourself  and  your  cure  has 
been  productive  to  me  of  the  most  unqualified  satisfaction. 

"  That  our  gracious  Lord  may  continue  you  yet  many  years 
in  happy  and  active  ministration  to.  your  flock,  is  the  fervent 
prayer, 

"Dearest  sir,  of  your  sincere  and  respectful 

"  Friend  and  brother,  .^^ 

,  "WK  HENRY  WALTER."    '^ 

"Rev.  Dr.  MiLNOR." 

"While  Dr.  Milnor  was  recovering  from  his  dangerous  illness, 
his  old  friend  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta  was  penning  the  following 
letter  ;  which,  of  course,  could  not  have  been  received  till  a  con- 
siderably later  period. 

"MoRADABAD,  near  Meerutt,  March  19,  1844. 

"My  dear,  dear  Friend — I  received  your  esteemed  letter  of 
July  8,  i842,  just  before  I  left  Calcutta  last  October ;  and  it  has 
been  accompanying  me  for  nearly  one  thousand  nine  hundred 
miles  of  my  circuitous  route,  waiting  to  be  answered,  month  after 
month.  At  length  a  delay  of  two  days  from  indisposition,  at  this 
small  station,  has  determined  me  to  thank  you  for  your  most 
valuable  letter,  which  was  as  cold  water  to  a  thirsty  soul.  It 
must,  I  fancy,  have  been  brought  by  a  private  hand.     The  pam- 


HIS  MINISTRY.  579 

phlets  also,  which  accompanied  your  letter,  were  most  welcome ; 
and  any  repetitions  of  such  favors  will  be  equally  so. 

"  Your  statement  of  the  narrow  means  of  yo]ir  church  mis- 
sions is  but  too  satisfactory  as  an  answer  to  my  request  for  Epis- 
copal missionaries.  But  I  cannot  help  lamenting  that  although 
there  are  nineteen  Presbyterians,  yet  there  is  not  one  Churchman, 
in  our  sense  of  the  word,  in  British  India.  We  are  so  much  in 
want  of  national  clergy  also,  that  I  have  lately  formed  a  '  Cal- 
cutta Diocesan  Additional  Clergy  Society,'  for  the  support,, by 
subscriptions,  of  a  certain  number  of  clergy,  aided  by  the  stations 
where  they  are  intended  to  labor. 

"  Tractarianism  is  on  the  wane,  thank  God,  both  in  England 
and  in  India ;  but  it  smothers  still  in  the  live  ashes  of  our  cor- 
rupt and  superstitious  nature,  and  will  break  out  again  unless 
extingriished,  embers  and  all,  by  floods  of  grace  on  the  dry  ground, 
rivers  opening  in  the  wilderness  itself. 

"I  rejoice  to  hear  that  so  many  of  your  bishops  and  clergy 
are  alive  and  sound  in  the  faith.  I  bless  God  especially  foi:  the 
talent  and  rare  faithfulness  of  Bishop  Mcllvaine.  His  protest  is 
admirable,  and  his  late  charge  the  very  best  thing  that  has  ap- 
peared in  so  small  a  compass.  Our  Bishop  of  Ossory  has  also 
done  incomparably  well  in  another  style  of  thought  and  argu- 
ment; cool,  dispassionate,  candid,  laborious,  mild,  and  yet  forci- 
ble and  convincing. 

"  The  tidings  of  yourself,  my  beloved  friend,  are  most  grate- 
ful to  me.  My  own  family  mercies  are  also  remarkable.  I  have 
but  a  son  and  a  daughter :  the  former  at  Islington,  with  near 
sixty  thousand  souls,  and  twenty-four  clergy ;  the  latter  married 
to  the  Vicar  of  Huddersfield,  with  forty  thousand  souls,  twelve 
churches,  and  fifteen  or  more  clergy.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul. 
Soon,  dear  brother,  we  must  put  off,  each  of  us,  this  our  taber- 
nacle, even  as  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  showed  us.  May  we 
endeavor  that,  after  our  decease,  our  people  may  have  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel  still  in  remembrance. 

"  Write  to  me,  love  me,  pray  for  me. 

"  I  am  your  affectionate 

"D.CALCUTTA." 
"The  Rev.  Dr.  MiLNOR." 


580  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

From   Bishop   Mcllyaine. 

"Gambier,  June  20,  1844. 
"  My  dear  Doctor — I  have  often  intended  writing  to  you  to 
express  my  joy  at  your  recovery  from  your  dangerous  illness ; 
but  almost  constant  absence  from  home  on  visitations,  for  three 
months,  has  prevented.  For  a  long  while  I  could  not  hear  how 
you  were  ;  and  only  judged  you  were  better,  because  not  hearing 
that  you  were  worse,  I  have  no  doubt  you  experienced  the  same 
sweet  support  and  peace  in  your  danger  as  when,  many  years 
ago^  you  lay  expecting  to  depart.  The  Lord  has  raised  you  up 
to  witness  and  share  still  more  of  the  trials  of  his  Church.  How 
we  are  beset  on  all  sides !  Our  heresies  within ;  the  universal 
crusade  against  us  from  without ;  and  then,  the  fuel  to  the  zeal 
of  that  crusade,  which  is  given  by  such  tribulations  as  that  in 
Philadelphia,  and  the  less  public  but  quite  understood  case  of 
greater  evil  in  New  York.     These  are  trials  !" 

And  this  allusion  to  them  is  not  improper,  because  God  had 
indeed  raised  Dr.  Milnor  from  sickness  both  to  witness  and  to 
share  those  trials,  especially  as  growing  out  of  that  "  case  of 
greater  evil,"  which  was  so  soon  to  be  presented  in  the  trial  of 
the  bishop  of  the  diocese  of  New  York. 

Meanwhile,  with  his  accustomed  assiduity,  he  devoted  his 
newly  recovered  health  and  strength  to  the  performance  of  his 
parochial  duties  ;  withdrawing  as  much  as  he  consistently  could, 
from  the. strifes  of  the  Church,  and  spending  what  he  felt  tg  be 
emphatically  his  last  days  in  still  and  sacred  fellowship  with  his 
God  and  Saviour.  How  long  he  was  to  live,  he  knew  not;  but 
he  knew,  that  though  many  years  should  be  added  to  his  course 
on  earth,  they  might  yet  be  justly  regarded  as  an  addition  to  be 
spent,  not  in  reassimilating  his  tastes  and  feelings  to  the  acerbi- 
ties and  contentiousness  of  men,  but  in  further  ripening  the  tem- 
per of  his  spirit  for  the  sweet  and  peaceful  employments  of  heaven. 
He  passed  a  part  of  his  usual  summer  vacation  with  his  friend 
and  former  parishioner,  Mr.  Jeremiah  H.  Taylor,  at  his  quiet 
retirement  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut.  The  following  short 
letter  is  the  only  notice  of  this  retreat. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  581 

To  Mrs.    Milnor. 

"Middle  Haddam,  Aug.  8,  1844. 

"  My  dear  Ellen — I  arrived  at  the  landing  of  this  place  yes- 
terday morning  at  four  o'clock,  and  found  Mr,  Taylor,  with  his 
carriage  on  the  wharf,  ready  to  take  me  to  his  residence,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  distant.  The  steamer  Kosciusko,  in  which  I 
came,  is  a  very  noisy  and  disagreeable  boat.  The  noise  of  the 
machinery  and  the  heat  of  the  cabin  prevented  my  sleeping 
much,  and  about  one  o'clock  I  was  glad  to  get  up  an(J  enjoy  the 
air  of  a  most  beautiful  night  on  deck.  On  arriving  at  Mr.  Tay- 
lor's, I  enjoyed  two  hours'  refreshing  sleep  before  breakfast.  Af- 
ter breakfast,  I  rode  to  Middletown,  about  four  miles  distant,  the 
weather  continuing,  as  it  is  to-day,  delightfully  pleasant. 

"  The  situation  of  Mr.  Taylor's  house  is  on  an  eminence, 
commanding  a  view  of  the  Connecticut  river  and  of  the  country 
for  many  miles ;  but  the  neighborhood  is  very  retired,  and  fur- 
nishes little  agreeable  acquaintance. 

"  I  shall  be  very  quiet  here  during  the  residue  of  this  week  ; 
but  unless  otherwise  advised,  you  may  expect  me  to  reach  home, 
God  willing,  on  Tuesday  next.     With  love  to  all  the  family, 
"  Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR."       , 

But,  notwithstanding  his  growing  fondness  for  a  calm  and 
meditative  life,  he  was  compelled  to  close  the  year  1844  amid 
two  of  perhaps  the  severest  trials  of  his  pilgrimage.  To  the  one 
of  these  trials  reference  is  made  in  the  following  note : 

To  the   Rev.  Dr.   Stone.      ^ 

"New  York,  Dec.  7,  1844. 

"  Rev.  AND  DEAR  Brother — My  heavy  domestic  affliction  must 

be  my  apology  for  not  remembering  my  promise  to  Mr. ,  to 

return  an  earlifer  answer  to  your  note  of  the  2d  inst."  After 
briefly  disposing  of  the  business  to  whiish  the  note  related,  he 
proceeds : 

"  Our  dear  Ellen  had  an  awful  day  yesterday,  and  as  bad  a 
night.  Dr.  Delafield,  who  was  called  in  for  consultation  yester- 
day, gives  us  some  encouragement  from  the  fact,  verified  in  his 
practice,  that  few  patients  die  of  these  nervous  diseases.     But 


582  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

her  debility  is  extreme,  and  her  stomach  in  so  irritable  a  state  as 
to  reject  all  food ;  so  that  I  confess  I  entertain  but  little  hope. 
Give  us  your  prayers.  I  have  more  than  once  realized,  in  my 
own  experience,  the  availableness  of  fervent  intercession ;  and  I 
know  much  is  now  offered  for  our  poor  afflicted  daughter. 
"  With  our  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Stone, 

"  Affectionately  yours, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

This  return  of  his  youngest  daughter's  former  malady,  from 
which  she  had  now  enjoyed  several  years  of  apparently  full  ex- 
emption, was  attended  with  uncommon  aggravations  in  the  vio- 
lence of  the  disease,  and  in  the  disappointnaent  of  fond  young 
hopes  by  the  sudden  death  of  a  friend.  To  her  parents,  both  the 
malady,  and  the  disappointment  by  which  it  was  precipitated  and 
made  so  dreadful,  were  inexpressibly  afflictive ;  and  for  months 
they  hung  in  painful  solicitude  as  over  a  frail  and  delicate  flower 
which  threatened  every  moment  to  drop  from  the  parent  stem. 
f-^  And  then,  in  the  very  midst  of  this  bitterness,  came  that  other 
trial  to  which  we  have  alluded.  Immediately  after  the  rising  of 
our  General  Convention,  in  the  autumn  of  1844,  the  bishop  of 
the  diocese  of  New  York  was  presented  for  trial  on  those  grave 
charges,  the  investigation  of  which  resulted  in  his  suspension 
from  office  on  the  3d  of  January,  1845.  Of  this  ecclesiastical 
trial,  no  account  is  here  needed,  or  would  be  proper.  All  into 
whose  hands  these,  pages  will  come,  know  what  facts  were 
charged  ;  all  know  how  long  the  bishop's  trial,  on  those  charges, 
continued  to  agitate  the  Episcopal  church  throughout  the  Union  ; 
and  all  know  how  deeply  this  church  has  been  humbled  under 
the  result  to  which  that  trial  led.  All  that  it  will  be  necessary 
to  add  in  this  place,  is  to  say,  that  during  the  trial.  Dr.  Milnor 
was  called  on  to  testify  to  an  important  transaction  which  the 
case  involved ;  that  he  consented  to  bear  his  testimony  with  the 
most  unfeigned  reluctance  ;  that  he  felt  himself  dragged  from  his 
loved  retirement  and  meditations  into  the  most  painful  contact 
possible  with  the  convulsions  which  were  heaving  our  church ; 
that  he  bore  his  testimony  at  the  bidding  of  simple  duty,  but 
with  all  the  directness,  candor,  and  solemnity  of  a  Christian 
man ;  and  that  the  character  of  his  testimony  had  a  manifest 


HIS  MINISTRY.  583 

weight  in  deciding  the  minds  of  many  who  were  sitting  in  judg- 
ment on  the  case.  The  most  profound  attention  was  given  to  his 
statement,  and  the  most  strenuous  effort  rpade  to  invalidate  it. 
But  this  effort  was  in  vain.  He  had  himself  once  been  an  ex- 
amining lawyer  ;  and  now,  as  a  Christian  witness,  he  understood 
too  well  the  nature  of  his  duty  and  of  his  position,  to  be  either 
disturbed,  or  driven  from  the  coolness  of  conscious  rectitude,  or 
from  the  course  of  constant  truth.  He  did  his  duty  and  retired, 
leaving  results  with  Him  in  whose  hand  are  all  times  and  all 
events.* 

To  his  conduct  throughout  this  agitating  crisis.  Bishop  Smith 
thus  refers,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Milnor.  Alluding  to  two 
things  in  the  life  of  the  father  which  had  deeply  interested  him, 
the  bishop  says,  after  disposing  of  one  of  them, 

"  The  other  relates  to  the  impression  made  upon  me  by  his 
singular  forethought,  wisdom,  kindliness,  and  firmness,  in  those 
last  sad  acts  of  his  life  which  dragged  him  iiear,  and  almost  into 
the  vortex,  during  the  memorable  ecclesiastical  trial  in  New  York. 

"  I  thought  I  already  knew  him  thoroughly,  and  that  I  duly 
appreciated  that  singular  statesmanlike  combination  of  boldness 
and  firmness  of  principle  with  a  just  and  tender  regard  for  the 
rights  and  feelings  of  others,  and  a  most  scrupulous  care  to  pre- 
serve his  character  and  influence  intact  and  unimpaired.  But 
his  whole  course  during  our  General  Convention,  pending  the 
question  of  presentment  and  trial,  and  during  his  own  long  and 
vexatious  cross-examination,  gave  me  so  much  higher  an  idea 
than  I  had  ever  before  entertained  of  his  wisdom  and  his  worth, 
that  I  could  not  but  devoutly  give  thanks  for  the  grace  of  ,God 

*  The  following  appropriate  quotation  was  probably  sent  him  a  few  days 
after  the  termination  of  the  trial : 

"  My  dear  Doctor, 

"  '  Ac  veluti  magno  in  populo  quum  saepe  coorta  est 
Seditio,  ssevitque  animis  ignobile  vulgus, 
Jamque  faces  et  saxa  volant ;  furor  arma  ministrat : 
Tum,  pietate  gravem  ac  meritis  si  forte  virum  quern 
Conspexere,  silentj  arrectisque  auribus  adstant ; 
lUe  regit  dictis  animos,  et  pectora  mulcet.' 

"  Yours  affectionately, 


"New  York,  January  14,  1844 "(5.) 


584  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

which  was  in  him,  and  also  greatly  wonder,  that  he  had  not  long 
before  insured  the  suffrages  of  his  brethren  somewhere  for  the 
office  of  a  bishop,  for  which  I  then  felt,  and  now  feel,  that  he  was 
preeminently  better  fitted,  in  all  such  the  highest  respects,  than 
many,  his  junioTs,  on  the  bench  of  bishops." 

In  reference  to  the  same  period,  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Milnor,  in  his 
"Recollections,"  has  the  following  paragraph: 

"  One  of  the  most  unpleasant,  nay,  painful  passages  in  the 
life  of  Dr.  Milnor,  was  the  part  which  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  take 
on  the  trial  of  his  own  diocesan.  While  he  deeply  deplored  the 
necessity  which  called  him  forth,  he  shrunk  not  from  the  obli- 
gation which  Christian  duty  imposed.  Many  different  opinions 
have  been  expressed,  and  many  unkind  reflections  made,  on  the 
course  which  he  took.  Those,  however,  who  attributed  it  to 
other  motives  than  a  deep  sense  of  the  duty  which  he  owed  his 
Church  and  his  office  as  a  minister  of  God,  little  understood  the 
individual  whom  they  assumed  to  judge.  His  diocesan  and  him- 
self had  long  been  on  terms  of  friendly  intercourse.  Me  had 
carefully  refrained,  even  in  the  bosom  of  his  own  family,  from 
speaking  of  former  delinquences ;  trusting,  with  his  wonted  un- 
suspecting generosity,  to  professed  penitence  and  promised  refor- 
mation. But  when  he  fully  believed  that  he  had  been  disappoint- 
ed, and  that  the  probation  had  been  abused,  his  resolution  was 
taken.  All  personal  considerations  were  merged  in  regard  for 
the  welfare  of  the  Church  and  the  cause  of  religion.  The  evi- 
dence which  he  gave  on  the  trial  was  clear  and  consistent;  and 
the  attempts  which  were  made  to  shake  his  credibility  as  a  wit- 
ness, on  the  score  of  failing  memory,  or  on  that  of  intentional 
misrepresentation,  alike  failed,  and  recoiled  on  their  authors.  His 
memory  was  but  too  retentive,  and  his  tale  too  truthful  for  many 
who  listened ;  while  the  doubting  minds  of  some  on  the  bench 
were  settlied  by  it  in  coincidence  with  the  verdict  which  was 
rendered.  Dr.  Milnor,  I  know,  felt  deeply  the  exceedingly  unkind 
remarks  of  one  of  the  bishops  respecting  his  testimony.  He  re- 
peatedly spoke  of  them  to  me,  and  mentioned  that  he  had  been 
strongly  advised  to  notice  them.  No  difference  of  opinion,  he 
thought,  should  have  induced  a  man  so  completely  to  forget  Chris- 
tian kindness  and  the  respect  due  to  age." 


HIS  MINISTRY.  585 

As  soon  as  the  verdict  and  sentence  with  which  the  trial 
closed,  had  been  pronounced,  and  even  while  the  Church  through- 
out the  land  was  rocking  amid  the  agitations  which  followed.  Dr. 
Milnor  again  withdrew,  as  much  as  possible,  into  the  retirement 
of  his  own  parish  and  his  own  thoughts ;  composed  and  peaceful 
in  the  approbation  of  his  conscience,  and  desirous  above  all  things 
of  cultivating  closeness  of  communion  with  God  and  heaven. 
Nor  was  it  long  ere  the  state  of  mind  to  which  he  was  brought 
by  his  illness  of  the  previous  winter,  was  again  comfortingly  re- 
gained. To  each  period  the  remarks  of  his  son,  in  the  "Recol- 
lections," are  equally  appropriate. 

^  "The  dangers  which  threatened  the  Church  and  the  cause  of 
evangelical  religion,  from  the  controversies  and  convulsions  of 
the  day,  he  dreaded  much,  and  constantly  deplored.  But  amid 
them  all,  he  strove  to  live  in  a  calm  and  sacred  self-possession.  I 
heard  a  conversation  between  him  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walter,  while 
the  latter  was  temporarily  supplying  his  pulpit  during  his  dan- 
gerous illness,  in  which  he  very  feelingly  alluded  to  those  con- 
troversies and  convulsions,  and  remarked  that  he  had  long  tried 
to  keep  himself  aloof  from  all  contentions,  and  to  devote  himself, 
with  redoubled  vigilance,  to  his  own  parish.  Years  were  creep- 
ing upon  him,  the  fire  of  youth  was  abated,  and  the  holy  calm 
of  eternity  was  settling  on  his  spirit." 

It  would  be  wrong,  however,  to  infer  from  what  has  been 
said,  that  the  calm  of  his  ripened  age  was  spent  in  the  con- 
templations of  solitude.  He  was  still  a  hard-working  man  in 
the  cause  of  general  benevolence,  as  well  as  in  the  rounds  of 
parochial  duty ;  and,  during  the  winter  of  1845,  became  deeply 
interested  in  a  contemplated  movement  which  had  for  its  object 
the  accommodation  of  many  in  the  upper  part  of  New  York,  es- 
pecially of  those  of  his  parishioners  who  were  led,  by  the  pressure 
of  a  growing  city,  to  remove  to  an  inconvenient  distance  >  from 
St.  George's.  Such  were  the  constantly  increasing  demands  of 
business  for  space  in  which  to  operate,  that  the  dwellings  of  the 
wealthy  and  of  the  poor  in  the  old  and  lower  parts  of  the  city, 
were  more  and  more  rapidly  transformed  into  shops  and  stores, 
and  their  occupants  compelled  to  seek  their  residences  in  other 
and  more  dist£^nt  neighborhoods.     The  regular  worshippers  at  St. 


586  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

George's  were,  indeed,  drawn  towards  their  old  place  by  the  strong 
bond  of  personal  affection  and  veneration  for  him  who  had  so 
long  been  their  chosen  spiritual  guide ;  and  not  a  few  of  them, 
disregarding  distance,  were  still  constant  attendants  on  his  min- 
istry. Nevertheless,  general  tendencies  were  too  manifest  and 
too  strong  to  be  either  disregarded  or  resisted;  and  Dr.  Milnor 
and  his  vestry  became,  during  the  winter  of  1845,  earnestly  en- 
gaged in  considering  the  question  which  was  thus  brought  home 
to  their  minds.  Having  an  ample  parish-endowment,  and  an 
endowment  more  ample  still  in  the  liberality  of  the  parishioners, 
the  plan  upon  which  they  fell  was  that  of  building  a  chapel  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  city,  which  should  be  appropriated  to  free 
sittings.  The  following  passage  in  the  "Recollections"  expresses 
the  feelings  of  Dr.  Milnor  in  relation  to  the  contemplated  move- 
ment. 

"He  long  mourned  over  the  changes  which  every  spring 
brought  among  his  parishioners.  His  congregation  had  become 
a  shifting  one,  and  he  could  not  stem  the  current.  It  was  setting 
resistlessly  upwards.  Still,  no  new  edifice,  however  splendid, 
could  ever  have  taken  the  place,  in  his  affections,  of  old  St 
George's.  It  had  been,  for  nearly  thirty  years,  the  field,  fruitful 
and  extensive,  of  his  labors ;  and  to  no  other  could  he  ever  have 
transferred  the  feelings  of  home  and  the  interests  of  life.  His 
views  in  relation  to  the  proposed  edifice,  were  in  strict  accordance 
with  the  lovely  simplicity  of  his  character.  He  desired  a  plain, 
modest  building,  in  which  the  rich  and  the  poor  could  worship 
God  together.  For  the  sake  of  the  latter,  the  sittings  were  to 
be  free.  He  loved  the  poor.  He  never  forgot  the  Saviour's  words, 
'  To  the  poor  the  Gospel  is  preached.'  Throughout  his  ministry, 
they  received  a  large  portion  of  his  care." 

The  following  letter  from  Dr.  Milnor's  assistant,  has  also  a 
reference  to  the  same  subject. 

"  MissiONART-RooMS,  27th  March,  1845. 
"E.EV.  AND  DEAR  SiR — The  Rcv.  Mr.  Lewis,  of  Calvary  (free) 
church,  Brooklyn,  happened  to  come  this  morning  into  the  mis- 
sionary-rooms to  hand  me  a  contribution  from  his  parish,  which, 
by  the  way,  was  a  very  liberal  one.     The  recent  conversation  in 


HIS  MINISTRY.  587 

St.  George's  vestry-room,  on  the  subject  of  free  churches,  led  me 
to  make  inquiries  of  him  as  to  the  practical  working  of  the  sys- 
tem ;  and  his  replies  were  so  satisfactory,  and  his  statements  so 
surprising,  that  I  am  prompted  to  communicate  them  to  you. 

"  I  send  you,  herewith,  a  Tract  which  he  published  in  1843  ; 
and  he  assures  me  that  the  experience  of  two  more  years  con- 
firms all  he  has  there  stated.  He  declares  the  system  to  be  no 
longer  an  experiment,  but  a  most  successful  enterprise.  And 
this  appears  from  the  facts,  that  the  rich  and  the  poor  do  actually 
worship  together ;  that  the  only  difficulty  with  which  they  have 
to  contend,  is  want  of  room ;  that  one  hundred  more  pews  could 
be  filled  at  once ;  that  he  has  as  regular  a  congregation  as  any  in 
Brooklyn,  and  numbering  very  many  families  of  the  highest  re- 
spectability ;  that  he  has  on  his  list  the  names  of  340  communi- 
cants, regularly  worshipping  in  the  church,  to  300  of  whom  he 
administered  the  sacrament  on  Easter  Sunday ;  that  aid  was  re- 
quired for  the  first  six  months  only,  since  which,  they  have  not 
only  been  a  self-supporting  congregation,  but  have  contributed 
liberally  to  others  ;  that  the  receipts  for  1844  were,  subscriptions 
from  the  congregation,  $2,000 ;  plate  collections,  $900 ;  contri- 
butions to  missions  and  charitable  objects,  $800 ;  expenses  for 
music,  etc.,  $500 — making  an  annual  revenue  of  $4,200 ;  cer- 
tainly a  very  remarkable  result,  when  we  consider  the  recent 
origin  of  the  congregation  and  the  moderate  size  of  the  edifice. 

"  These  and  many  other  observations  which  went  to  show 
the  harmony,  interest,  and  prosperity  which  characterized  the 
congregation,  quite  removed  all  the  practical  difficulties  which 
seemed  to  me  to  encumber  a  very  beautiful  theory,  and  satisfied 
me,  that  could  a  church  of  proper  dimensions  and  respectable 
appointments,  be  established  in  this  city  under  your  auspices,  it 
would  insure  success  to  a  very  noble  enterprise. 

"  The  continued  zeal  in  the  matter  which  Mr.  "Winston 
evinces,  and  his  earnest  desire  to  secure  your  countenance  and 
cooperation,  induce  me,  after  conferring  with  him,  to  send  you 
the  foregoing  information.  If  my  own  'zeal'  lack  'knowledge' 
in  this  matter,  I  pray  you  to  excuse  it. 

"  I  am,  most  respectfully  and  affectionately,  yours, 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor."  "P-  P-  IRVING." 


088  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

''  At  what  point,  precisely,  of  this  and  all  his  other  enterprises, 
he  was  finally  interrupted,  the  annexed  documents  in  the  margin 
will  show.*  The  original  draft  of  the  memorial  to  the  Yestry 
of  Trinity  church  was  written  by  Dr.  Milnor,  in  a  fair  copy, 
with  but  little  alteration  from  its  first  hastily  prepared  form, 
between  the  hour  of  tea  and  nine  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  Tues- 

*  At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's  church,  2d  April,  1845,  at 
five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  following  communication  was  presented,  and  entered 
upon  the  minutes. 

"  The  Rector  stated  to  the  Vestry,  that  after  service  on  Good  Friday,  he 
was  applied  to  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  his  influence  and  cooperation  in 
the  building  of  a  free  chapel  of  St.  George's  church,  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
city,  where  the  rich  and  poor  might  worship  together,  according  to  the  spirit 
of  the  Gospel  and  ancient  usage.  A  former  member  of  this  parish  had  gener- 
ously offered  a  subscription  of  five  thousand  dollars,  and  to  use  his  efforts  in 
carrying  forward  the  design  to  completion.  The  Rector  stated  his  unwilling- 
ness to  embark  in  this  enterprise  until  he  "had  the  consent  and  concurrence  of 
this  Vestry  •  and  he  felt  the  more  delicacy  after  the  remark  of  a  member  of 
this  Vestry,  who,  in  stating  the  wishes  and  designs  of  those  who  had  urged  it, 
said,  that  in  addition  to  other  and  weighty  motives,  they  also  designed  it  as  a 
lasting  memento  of  the  piety,  faithfulness,  and  extended  usefulness  of  the 
present  Rector  of  St.  George's  church.  He  hoped  that  the  subject  would  be 
thoroughly  investigated  by  the  Vestry  through  a  committee,  to  report  at  a 
future  meeting." 

Accordingly,  a  committee  of  the  five  senior  members  of  the  Vestry  were 
appointed  for  this  purpose  ;  the  Rector  being  added  as  chairman. 

The  result  of  this  action  of  the  Vestry  and  its  committee  will  be  seen  in 
the  following  extracts  from  the  records  of  Trinity  church : 

"^KW  York,  12tli  May,  1845. 

"To  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York: 

"  GeKtlemen — We  are  instructed  by  the  Vestry  of  St.  George's  church 
ifi  this  city  to  transmit  to  your  honorable  body  the  enclosed  memorial ;  and 
deem  it  our  duty  to  state,  that  the  original  draft  of  this  document  was  among 
the  last  acts  of  our  deceased  Rector,  the  late  Dr.  Milnor,  who  felt  a  deep  and 
lively  interest  in  its  success,  expressing  the  determination  to  subscribe  for  its 
accomplishment,  from  his  own  private  means,  a  sum  equal  to  one-fifth  of 
that  now  solicited  from  your  respected  corporation." 

JOHN  STEARNS,  \ 

JAMES  A.  BURTUS,       # 

B.  L.  WOOLLEY,  >  Committki.  ^ 

WM.  WHITLOCK,  Jr.,  V 

FRED.  S.  WINSTON,       / 

''  To  the  Rector,  Church- wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  Trinity  church,  New 
York :  The  memorial  of  the  Rector,  Church- wardens,  and  Vestrymen  of  St. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  589 

day,  the  8th  of  April :  the  very  evening  which  closed  his  laborious 
and  useful  life.  We  hasten  to  other  and  more  solemn  incidents. 
After  his  recovery  in  the  winter  of  1844,  he  enjoyed  his  usual 
health  and  vigor,  both  of  body  and  of  mind,  insomuch  that  but 
for  his  thin  white  locks,  he  might  well  have  been  mistaken  for  a 
man  of  sixty,  instead  of  one  near  the  opening  of  his  seventy-third 

George's  church,  New  York,  respectfully  showeth,  That  it  has  been  represent- 
ed to  your  memorialists,  that  an  addition  to  the  accommodations  afforded  for 
the  public  worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  usages  of  our  venerable 
church,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  is  extremely  desirable,  and  will  soon, 
from  the  rapid  increase  of  buildings  in  that  quarter,  become  absolutely  neces- 
sary; and  that  there  is  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  many  individuals  to  con- 
tribute towards  the  erection  of  a  free  church,  in  a  location  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  city,  sufficiently  remote  from  other  Episcopal  churches,  provided  the 
purchase  of  ground  and  the  erection  of  such  a  building  should  be  undertaken 
by  your  memorialists,  and  be  connected,  as  a  chapel,  with  St.  George's  church  : 
that  your  memorialists,  believing  that  the  increase  in  the  number  of  Episcopal 
churches  in  this  city,  for  the  last  thirty  years,  has  not  borne  a  just  proportion 
to  the  increase  of  the  population  during  that  time,  and  that  a  commodious 
edifice  on  the  plan  proposed,  of  leaving  the  sittings  free,  and  the  current  ex- 
penses to  be  defrayed  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  worshippers,  would 
be  peculiarly  acceptable  to  many  of  our  members,  and  tend  much  to  the  en- 
largement of  their  numbers ;  believing  also,  that  the  accomplishment  of  such 
an  "undertaking  is  practicable  on  the  part  of  your,  memorialists,  at  an  estimated 
cost  of  from  sixty-five  to  seventy  thousand  dollars,  provided  they  can  obtain 
from  your  body  a  sum  adeqviate  to  meet  the  expense  of  purchasing  suitable  lots 
for  the  erection  of  such  edifice  thereon — Respectfully  request  your  body  to 
make  them  a  grant  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  money,  or  lots  of  ground 
which  may  be  estimated  to  be  worth  that  sum,  towards  carrying  the  proposed 
object  into  execution :  and  your  memorialists  believe  that  the  erection  of  such 
edifice,  without  interfering  with  the  interests  of  existing  establishments, 
will  most  essentially  contribute  to  the  promotion  of  religion,  and  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  our  church — objects  which  they  doubt  not,  your  honorable 
body  as  well  as  your  memorialists  are  anxious  to  promote.  In  the  event  of 
your  concurrence  in  these  views,  and  a  grant  being  made  from  your  funds  of 
the  sum  required,  your  memorialists  purpose  to  embark  in  the  undertaking, 
and  to  pledge  themselves,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  for  its  accomplishment 
upon  a  scale  commensurate  with  the  increasing  wants  of  the  church,  and 
unencumbered  with  debt.  Your  memorialists,  therefore,  respectfully  and 
urgently  request,  that  you  will  take  the  subject  into  consideration,  and  by 
a  compliance  with  the  request  now  made,  enable  your  memorialists  to 
proceed  at  once,  with  all  reasonable  expedition,  to  the  commencement  and 
accomplishment  of  a  design  which  they  trust  will  conduce  to  the  glory  of 
God,  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  the  honor  and  advantage  of  the 
church." 


590  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

year.  His  form  was  still  unbent,  and  his  step  quick  and  firm ; 
his  voice  was  strong  and  free  from  tremulousness,  and  his  eye 
bright  and  full  of  expression  ;  his  complexion,  too,  wore  its  usual 
unwrinkled  and  ruddy  freshness,  and  all  his  faculties  of  mind 
seemed  as  quick  and  undimmed  as  ever.  In  short,  the  approaches 
of  age  manifested  themselves  in  little  more  than  his  growing 
fondness  for  repose  and  quiet  meditation,  and  an  increasing  aver- 
sion to  the  strifes  and  noises  of  the  age ;  and  even  these  feelings 
seemed,  in  a  good  degree,  the  promptings  of  a  consciousness, 
never  absent,  that  his  years  could  not  be  many,  and  that  his 
constitutional  tendency  exposed  him  every  day  to  a  sudden  arrest 
and  summons  to  depart.  Under  this  consciousness,  he  may  be 
said  to  have  been  now  living  and  laboring  hy  the  day. 

On  Sunday,  the  6th  of  April,  he  preached  an  admirable  dis- 
course on  the  subject  of  "a  charitable  judgment  of  the  opinions 
and  conduct  of  others,''^  in  which,  without  professing  to  do  so,  he 
yet  really  and  ably  illustrated  and  defended  his  own  principles 
and  life  in  all  his  past  intercourse  with  Christians  of  different 
names.  And  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  8th  of  the  same 
month,  he  presided  in  his  own  study  at  a  meeting  of  the  Direc- 
tors of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution,  of  which  he  was  one,.of 
the  founders,  and  had  long  been  a  beneficent  patron.  It  was  at 
the  close  of  this  meeting,  that  one  of  the  directors  congratulated 
him  on  his  appearance  of  good  health,  and  that  in  reply  to  the 
congratulation,  he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  and  said,  "I 
have  something  here,  sir,  that  warns  me  to  expect  death  at  any 
moment."  The  warning  was  not  causeless.  In  five  hours  from 
the  adjournment  of  the  directors,  his  body  lay — a  lifeless  form  I 

What  an  appropriate  gathering  of  incidents  !  His  last  deed 
for  the  cause  of  Christ  was  amid  labors  of  benevolence ;  his  last 
sermon  to  his  flock  was  an  elucidation  of  his  whole  Christian 
life;*  and  one  of  his  last  words  showed,  that  though  in  appar- 
ently perfect  health,  he  was  yet  waiting  to  die. 

*  The  last  sermon  which  he  ever  preached  was  to  the  inmates  of  "  the 
Asylum  for  Respectable  Aged  and  Indigent  Females,"  on  the  afternoon  of  Sun- 
day, April  6,  two  days  before  his  death.  Those  inmates  were  much  attached 
to  him,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service,  crowded  around  to  bid  him,  what  they 
little  thought  was  to  be,  a  last  farewell. 


HIS  MINISTRY.  591 

Thus  suddenly,  and  with  little  note  of  preparation,  have  we 
reached  the  event  to  which  these  pages  have  been  tending.  But 
not  more  suddenly,  nor  with  less  note  of  preparation,  has  it  now 
come  upon  the  reader,  than  it  actually  broke  upon  the  family, 
on  that  sad  night  of  the  8th  of  April,  1845,  and  upon  the  public 
ear,  on  the  sorrowful  morning  of  the  following  day.  The  partic- 
ulars of  his  death  are  furnished  in  the  following  letter  from  his 
son,  who  was  his  only  medical  attendant  and  nurse,  and  who 
wrote  to  Mr.  Winston  soon  after  the  event. 

"  Dear  Sm — ^At  your  request,  I  will  give  you  a  brief  account 
of  the  closing  scene  of  my  dear  father's  life.  For  some  days  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  his  general  health  appeared  to  be  improved. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  rallying  of  the  powers  of  nature  for  a  last 
effort.  You  will  recollect  with  what  strength  of  voice  and  energy 
of  manner  his  last  sermon  in  our  church  was  delivered.  At  home, 
he  was  cheerfal  and  happy ;  engaging  with  all  the  animation  and 
spirit  of  earlier  years,  in  the  new  arrangements  which  were  in 
contemplation.  On  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  the  day  which  was 
to  close  hLs  career,  he  appeared  at  family  prayer  and  breakfast 
as  well  as  usual.  At  noon,  I  saw  him  writing  at  the  very  desk 
from  which  these  lines  to  you  will  issue,  complaining  of  no  ail- 
ment. I  cautioned  him  respecting  the  change  of  weather,  aud 
left  him. 

"  On  our  reunion  at  the  dinner-table,  he  informed  me  that 
during  his  walk  that  mourning,  his  oppression  and  difficulty  of 
breathing  had  been  much  worse  than  usual.  0  what  a  pang 
shot  through  my  own  heart  on  listening  to  these  words.  For  a 
year  past,  I  had  been  confident  that  he  labored  under  %,  disease 
of  the  heart,  which  was  incurable,  and  would,  in  all  probability, 
terminate  instantly.  Although  I  never  distinctly  told  him  my 
own  opinion  of  his  situation,  and  though  to  me  the  end  seemed 
to  be  slowly,  but  surely  approaching,  and  once  that  very  day  I 
had  avoided  a  direct  answer  to  his  question,  whether  he  had  not 
a  disease  of  the  heart ;  yet  for  a  long  time  he  was  convinced  that 
such  was  the  case,  and  was  unquestionably  expecting  a  sudden 
termination  of  life.  I  advised  him  to  keep  quiet  at  home  for  the 
remainder  of  the  day ;  and  he  did  so " — presiding,  however,  as 


592  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

we  have  seen,  at  the  meeting  in  his  study  of  the  Directors  of  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution,  and  uttering  the  impressive  words 
which  have  already  been  quoted. 

"  At  tea  I  saw  no  change.  I  sat  with  him  until  eight,  and 
then  left  him  reading.  At  half  past  nine,  I  visited  him  again ; 
he  was  still  reading,  and  said  he  felt  comfortable.  At  ten,  I  heard 
him  pass  my  room  door  on  his  way  to  bed.  He  called  loudly  on 
my  younger  brother,  who  slept  with  him,  to  come  to  bed,  and 
then  retired  to  his  own  room.  I  was  waiting  until  sufficient  time 
had  elapsed  for  his  undressing  before  I  made  him  my  usual  final 
visit  for  the  night,  when  my  brother  entered,  and  bade  me  come 
immediately.  On  reaching  his  room,  I  found  him  sitting  upon 
his  bed  in  great  distress,  and  gasping  for  breath  ;  not  worse,  how- 
ever, than  I  had  often  seen  him  before,  when,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  I  had  been  able  to  relieve  him.  I  immediately  adminis- 
tered the  usual  draught.  He  complained  of  great  coldness,  and 
said,  '  Henry,  I  am  dying — I  am  dying?  I  prepared  a  still 
,  stronger  remedy,  and  while  mixing  it  heard  him  calmly  praying, 
'  God  have  mercy ;  have  mercy — '  "  [Something  scarcely  audi- 
ble, the  writer  says,  was  added;  but  whether  it  was  a  prayer  for 
himself,  his  family,  or  his  flock,  he  could  not  distinguish.  This 
only  could  he  perceive,  that  it  was  the  prayer  of  a  soul  at  peace, 
and  sweetly  breathing  out  its  desires  to  God.]  "  On  my  present- 
ing him  the  mixture,  he  doubted  his  ability  to  swallow.  I  begged 
him  to  make  the  attempt.  He  did  so,  and  succeeded.  In  a  few 
moments  he  became  insensible  ;  his  breath  grew  softer  ;  and  his 
spirit  passed  so  quietly  away,  that  I  knew  not  the  exact  moment 
of  its  passing.  .  ' 

"  So  went  to  his  gracious  reward  this  best  of  fathers,  full  of 
years  and  of  honors  in  his  Saviour's  cause.  He  died  with  his 
harness  on.  He  had  long  stood  watching  at  the  portals  of  eter- 
nity, listening  for  the  Spirit's  song  to  call  him  home.  That  strain 
was  sounding  in  his  ears  when  I  reached  his  bedside.  It  was  not 
for  human  voice  to  call  him  back  when  the  heavenly  Harper  was 
bidding  him  away.  "  Yours,  very  truly, 

«WM.  H.  MILNOR." 

To  show  how  deliberately  and  habitually,  though  in  silence 
and  by  himself,  he  had  for  some  time  been  "  setting  his  house  in 


■>        ■  - 

HIS  MINISTRY.  593 

order,"  in  expectation  of  a  sudden  death,  the  following  extract 
from  the  "Recollections"  is  given  : 

"  The  last  sermon  which  he  began  to  write,  was  from  Psalm 
16  :  8  :  'I  have  set  the  Lord  always  before  me  :  because  he  is  at 
my  right  hand,  I  shall  not  be  moved.''  The  manuscript  is  now 
before  me.  Only  one  page  is  finished,  and  that  page  closes  with 
the  following  sentence,  the  last  he  ever  wrote  for  his  people : 
'  The  faithful  servant  of  God  desires  not  only  to  cultivate  an 
habitiial  regard  to  his  presence,  as  a  matter  of  duty,  but  also  to 
enjoy  a  constant  sense  of  that  presence,  as  a  special  privilege.'' 
How  soon  Was  he  permitted  to  enjoy,  not  a  mere  foretasting 
sense,  but  the  actual  presence  of  God  himself ! 

"  As  he  had  for  some  time  evidently  been  looking  for  a  sudden 
call,  so  all  his  actions  seemed  to  have  a  reference  to  it.  Thus, 
all  his, accounts  were  carefully  made  up,  and  useful  memoranda 
were  placed  where  they  could  easily  be  found.  He  had  indeed 
'  set  his  house  in  order ^ 

"A  few  days  before  his  death,  his  daughter  Ellen's  health 
required  a  change  of  climate,  and  her  mother  accompanied  her 
to  the  South.  He  yielded  to  the  necessity  of  the  case,  but  parted 
from  them  with  great  reluctance.  He  doubtless  felt,  that  so  far 
as  earth  is  concerned,  the  parting  would  be  final.  He  stood  on 
the  wharf  with  me  gazing  after  them  till  they  were  lost  in  the 
distance,  and  then,  with  an  attempt  at  cheerfulness  which  I  saw 
he  did  not  feel,  turned  away.  Passing  the  market  on  our  way 
home,  he  requested  me  to  step  in  with  him.  He  went  round  and 
introduced  me  to  all  with  whom  he  was  in  the  habit  of  dealing, 
saying  with  a  smile,  '  You  know  not  how  soon  this  duty  of  mar- 
keting may  devolve  on  you.'  " 

The  reference  in  this  extract  to  his  sad  parting  with  his 
wife,  explains  an  allusion  in  the  foregoing  letter,  to  the  fact  that 
a  "younger  brother"  slept  with  his  father.  There  was  a  sort 
of  unacknowledged  recognition  of  the  truth,  that  it  had  become 
unsafe  for  him  to  sleep  alone.  Nor  was  Eleanor's  afflictive 
and  protracted  illness,  with  the  consequent  absence  of  her  mo- 
ther and  herself,  the  only  circumstance  which,  at  that  moment, 
tended  to  make  the  rectory  of  St.  George's  more  than  usually 
lonely.     The  youngest  son  was  at  the  same  time  on  his  way  ta 

Hem.  Milsor.  38 


594  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

Europe,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  business  in  which  he  had  en- 
gaged. Thus  almost  alone  did  the  master  of  the  mansion  pass 
away.  And  yet  he  was  not  alone,  for,  besides  the  hand  of  filial 
tenderness  that  ministered  to  his  case,  God  was  with  him ;  and 
with  that  presence  his  departing  soul  was  doubtless  satisfied. 
He  felt  the  Lord  '■^  at  his  right  hand  f  and  therefore  he  was 
^'  not  movedy  In  the  calmness  of  prayer  he  communed  with 
his  Father  even  while  passing  the  gate  of  death ;  and  therefore 
breathed  his  soul  away  so  softly,  even  as  it  had  been  a  babe  fall- 
ing quietly  asleep  on  its  mother's  bosom. 

From  this  brief  notice  of  the  good  man's  death,  of  the  circum- 
stances under  which  it  occurred,  and  of  his  preparation  for  the 
event,  we  must  pass  to  dwell  a  few  moments  on  the  impression 
which  it  made  on  the  public  mind,  and  on  the  regards  which 
were  paid  to  his  memory. 

It  may  be  said  with  truth,  that  seldom,  if  ever,  have  simul- 
taneous and  wide-spread  expressions  of  public  grief  testified  more 
loudly  or  more  touchingly  to  the  worth  of  a  departed  man  of 
God,  than  those  which  were  poured  forth  upon  the  armouncement 
of  Dr.  Milnor's  sudden  demise.  He  had  not  been  living  in  his 
closet  alone,  nor  in  his  study  chiefly,  perusing  or  producing  those 
volumes  which  elicit  the  world's  loud  praises  or  louder  strictures, 
to  soothe  or  to  torture  the  living  author's  ear.  '•^Fruitur  sua  fa- 
ma  "  could  indeed  be  said  of  him,  if  not  as  a  living  scholar,  at  least 
as  a  living  actor,  moving  among  the  multitudes  whom  his  benefi- 
cent life  had  blessed,  and  enjoying  the  secret  consciousness  of  a 
well-earned,  fame.  Still,  it  was  not  during  life  that  even  as  an 
actor  in  its  busy  scenes,  his  worth  was  fully  proclaimed,  and  his 
praises  fully  uttered.  Towards  the  living  philanthropist,  the  liv- 
ing man  of  beneficent  activity,  the  world  often  behaves  not  only 
with  something  of  fitting  modesty,  lest  its  praises  should  seem 
like  flattery,  but  also  with  something  of  apparent  indifference, 
because  not  fully  conscious  of  the  blessings  which  it  is  receiving. 
In  such  cases,  it  is  only  when  the  instrument  of  those  blessings 
is  removed,  that  men  awake  to  a  true  sense  of  their  indebtedness, 
or  give  free  vent  to  the  emotions  which  had  been  silently  growing 
into  strength  within  them.  It  was  so  in  the  present  case.  Al- 
though he  was  a  well-read  divine,  yet  he  was  most  emphatically 


HIS   MINISTRY.  595 

a  man  of  action.  In  this  character,  too,  the  Christian  world 
knew  him  widely,  and  widely  appreciated  the  great  value  of  his 
services ;  yet  it  was  not  till  he  was  gone,  that  it  was  prepared 
fully  to  express  its  appreciation,  or  even  fully  to  realize  the  value 
of  what  it  appreciated.  But  when  death  came,  and  he  no  longer 
walked  among  living  men,  then  his  true  worth  was  felt  in  the  dis- 
tressful void  produced :  grief  burst  forth  on  every  hand ;  and  deep 
acknowledgments  to  God  were  made  for  the  rare  blessing  so  long 
enjoyed,  so  late  removed.  The  religious  press,  of  every  Christian 
denomination,  and  in  every  part  of  the  country,  spoke  forth  the 
strength  and  fervor  of  the  common  sentiment ;  nor  was  even  the 
secular  press  either  less  prompt  or  less  emphatic  in  its  utterances. 
The  various  societies,  greater  and  smaller,  of  which  he  had  been 
a  member,  met  and  mourned,  and  gave  published  expressions  of 
their  sorrows  and  their  sense  of  loss.  The  clergy  of  his  own 
church,  of  all  orders  and  of  all  opinions,  united  in  heart-felt 
tributes  to  his  memory  and  his  worth.  The  great  anniversaries 
in  New  York,  which  occurred  soon  after  his  death,  spread 
throughout  Protestant  Christendom  the  loud  wail  of  sorrow  for 
the  dead,  and  the  equally  loud  note  of  gratitude  to  God  that  the 
dead  had  lived.  The  pulpit,  especially  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
gave  voice  in  cities  and  in  villages  to  the  universal  feeling ;  and 
in  many  of  the  religious  periodicals  of  the  country,  obituaries  of 
various  length  swelled  the  testimony  of  the  day  to  the  truth,  that 
a  greatly  good  and  a  greatly  useful  Christian  had  gone  to  his  rest. 
And  finally,  private  letters  and  official  communications,  from 
individuals  and  from  societies,  poured  into  the  bosom  of  the 
bereaved  household,  in  unstinted  measure,  the  heali];ig  balms  of 
sympathy  and  of  a  just  appreciation  of  the  character  and  services 
of  its  departed  head. 

The  attempt  to  collect  what  was  thus,  in  various  forms,  done 
and  said  and  published,  would  of  itself  require  a  volume ;  and 
therefore  will  not  here  be  made.  For  this  place  the  foregoing 
allusions  will  suffice. 

The  funeral  took  place  on  Friday,  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and 
was  a  most  affecting  and  solemn  ceremony.  "  So  intense,"  says 
one  of  the  published  notices  of  the  event,  "  was  the  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  public  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  his  mem- 


596  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ory,  that  the  galleries  of  St.  George's  church  were  filled  some 
hours  before  the  time  announced  for  the  interment ;  and  so  soon 
as  the  doors  were  opened,  and  the  coffin  was  carried  into  the 
church,  the  spacious  building  was  filled  to  overflowing.  Among 
those  present,  were  clergymen  of  nearly  every  denomination,  in- 
cluding most  of  those  belonging  to  the  Episcopal  church,  the 
respective  Boards  of  the  American  and  New  York  Bible  Societies, 
the  Tract  Society,  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution,  and  all  the 
pupils."  "  The  church  was  apparelled  in  deep  mourning,  and 
the  chandeliers  were  veiled  in  black  crape."  "  The  choir  sung 
the  anthem,  '  Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame  ;'  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Tyng  delivered  the  funeral  address;  often  laboring  under  deep 
emotion,  only  repressed  with  great  effort ;  and  many  of  both 
sexes  wept  nearly  the  whole  time  of  its  delivery." 

A  similar  scene  was  presented  the  next  Sunday  morning, 
when  the  funeral  sermon  was  delivered.  In  that  scene,  it  is 
true,  there  were  no  public  representatives  of  either  ecclesiastical 
or  benevolent  organizations,  and  the  sentiment  which  prevailed 
was  somewhat  sobered  in  its  tone  by  the  fact  that  "  the  narrow 
house''''  of  the  dead  was  no  longer  visible  to  the  eye.  But  the 
house  of  God  was  similarly  crowded,  and  a  sacredly  tender  so- 
lemnity breathed  over  the  great  congregation,  and  through  the 
affecting  services  of  the  morning ;  as  if  it  were  a  consciousness, 
that  though  the  form  of  the  holy  dead  was  sleeping  beneath,  yet 
his  spirit  was  still  hovering  above,  and  holding,  deep-felt,  with 
his  sorrowing  friends,  the  mystic  "  Communion  of  saints." 

His  remains  repose  beneath  the  chancel  from  which  he  so 
often  delighted  to  dispense  the  symbols  of  his  Saviour's  love ; 
while  in  the  recess,  on  a  lofty  base,  rises  a  beautiful  marble  bust, 
which  by  its  faithful  likeness,  speaks  continually  to  long-lived 
feelings  of  love  and  veneration  in  the  hearts  of  his  surviving  and 
affectionate  flock. 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  597 

PART   VI. 

r- 
RETROSPECT  OP  DR.  MILNOR'S  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER, 


/       ■  ■  ,       .  -  ■  '■•_ 

All  that  now  remains  to  be  done,  in  giving  to  the  world  the 
life  of  this  faithful  servant  of  Christ,  is  to  present  some  general 
views  of  his  position,  influence,  iand  character,  upon  which,  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  work,  it  has  not  been  convenient  to  dwell. 
Upon  several  points,  little  could  be  said  with  effect  before  reach- 
ing the  termination  of  his  course.  They  are  seen  to  better  ad- 
vantage in  looking  back,  and  regarding  them  as  fixed  points,  than 
in  looking  at  them  by  the  way,  and  regarding  them  as  moving 
points.  There  are  several  things  which  run  through  his  Christian 
and  ministerial  life,  and  being  chiefly  of  uniform  tenor,  present 
few  occasions  for  special  remark ;  but  which,  when  seen  in  their 
completeness,  as  each  a  whole,  well  deserve  particular  consider- 
ation. Whatever  was  special  in  the  matters  to  which  reference 
is  here  made,  has  received  sufficiently  special  notice  in  passing. 
Hence,  to  general  views  only  is  the  reader's  attention  now  to  be 
directed.  • 

L    DR  MILNOR's  connection  WITH  THE  AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

This  connection  was  formed  almost  contemporaneously  with 
his  entrance  upon  the  ministry,  was  based  on  principle,  and  was 
therefore  consistently  and  perseveringly  maintained.  The  prin- 
ciple on  which  he  acted  in  his  early  and  continued  connection 
with  that  great  institution,  may  be  thus  unfolded. 

He  regarded  all  bodies,  professedly  Christian,  who  hold  the 
Bible  as  their  rule  of  faith,  on  the  ground  of  its  divine  inspira- 
tion and  authority,  as,  in  some  valid  sense,  pajts  of  the  visible 
Church  of  Christ.  He  was  not  of  the  number  of  those  who  limit 
the  boundaries  of  this  Church,  so  as  to  include  those  millions  only 
which  are  covered  by  an  episcopally  constituted  ministry  and 
government,  and  who  consequently  regard  the  remaining  millions 


598  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  Christians,  so  called,  as  neither  churches,  nor  parts  of  the 
Church,  but  as,  in  their  collective  states,  certain  nameless  mon- 
strosities, engendered,  amid  the  outer  darkness  of  the  world,  by 
the  few  rays  of  light  which  have  happened  to  straggle  beyond 
the  favored  pale  of  privilege.  On  the  contrary,  he  looked  upon 
these  millions  as  lying  within  that  pale  ;  as  in  the  Church,  and 
of  the  Church ;  as  being,  many  of  them,  highly  illuminated,  and 
as  animated  with  much  of  the  best  life  and  power  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ.  Taking  this  view,  he  held  that  there  is  a  unity  which 
reaches  and  includes  all  who  are  thus  distinguished — a  unity 
which  holds  in  one  visible  whole  all  the  particular  members  of 
Christ  on  earth.  Of  this  unity,  therefore,  he  held  that  there 
ought  to  be,  especially  among  Protestants,  some  visible  expres- 
sion, some  recognized  badge.  This  visible  expression,  this 
recognized  badge,  so  far  as  our  country  is  concerned,  he  could 
find  nowhere  more  appropriately  than  in  the  union  of  Christians 
of  different  names  in  the  American  Bible  Society,  an  institution 
whose  sole  work  is  to  prepare  and  circulate  through  the  world 
the  simple  standard  of  their  common  faith,  hope,  and  practice. 
The  question  with  him  was  not  so  much  whether  stich  a  union 
were  at  present  literally  practicable  and  harmoniously  main- 
tainable, as  whether  it  were  not  desirable,  and  ought  not,  as  far 
and  as  fast  as  possible,  to  be  realized.  Whether  it  were  not,  in 
the  highest  sense,  important  to  the  efficiency,  the  growth,  the 
best  interests  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  Answering  this  question 
as  his  soberest  Christian  judgment  constrained  him  to  answer  it, 
the  decision  left  nothing  in  him  for  doubt,  wavering,  or  hesita- 
tion. He  gave  to  such  a  union  his  unqualified  allegiance ;  and 
it  was  one  of  the  great  works  of  his  Christian  life  to  embody, 
illustrate,  and  extend  the  practicability,  the  benefits,  and  the 
blessedness  of  living  in  so  divine  a  bond. 

Entering  this  union,  then,  with  such  viows,  the  question  nat- 
urally arises,  "What  were  the  position  which  he  held,  the  influ- 
ence which  he  exerted,  and  the  labors  which  he  performed,  in 
connection  with  the  American  Bible  Society  ?  To  this  question, 
an  answer  in  part  may  be  drawn  from  the  foregoing  narrative  of 
his  ministerial  life.  But  an  answer  in  full  requires  a  farther 
statement.     And,  happily,  with  the  materials  for  such  a  state- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  599 

merit  we  have  been  furnished  by  the  excellent  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary of  the  Society,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brigham,  so  long  one  of  the 
worthy  associates  of  Dr.  Milnor  in  the  conduct  of  the  institution. 
The  materials  furnished  by  Dr.  Brigham  are,  indeed,  but  a  sum- 
mary. In  the  following  statement,  therefore,  they  will  be  used 
without  strict  confinement  to  the  language  in  which  they  have 
been  communicated.  They  are  valuable  for  the  dates  and  facts 
which  they  certify,  and  for  the  views  of  character  which,  as  the , 
result  of  long  and  familiar  intercourse,  they  express. 

"  This  distinguished  man  became  interested  in  the  cause  of 
the  Bible  before  his  removal  from  Pennsylvania ;  and  his  interest 
there  was  strongly  favored  by  the  well-known  views  of  his  be- 
loved diocesan,  Bishop  White.  Upon  his  settlement  in  New 
York,  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1816,  the  American  Bible  Soci- 
ety had  been  but  a  few  months  in  existence.  He  lost  no  time  in 
connecting  himself  with  it  as  an  active  member  ;  and  continued 
to  labor  in  its  service  until  the  very  week  of  his  decease. 

"  In  1819  he  was  appointed  Domestic  Secretary  ;  an  office 
which  involved  an  active  correspondence  with  the  various 
branches,  auxiliaries,  and  agents  of  the  institution  throughout 
the  United  States.  In  this  capacity  too,  he  prepared  and  pre^ 
sented  the  fourth  annual  report  of  the  society,  at  its  anniversary 
in  May,  1820;  an  able  and  interesting  document  of  forty-five 
octavo  pages.  In  1820  he  was  appointed  Foreign  Secretary,  as 
successor  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mason;  and  in  this  capacity  he  main- 
tained, for  many  years,  an  active  correspondence  with  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  thus  bringing  the  experience  and 
counsels  of  that  great  institution  to  the  aid  of  the  younger  organ- 
ization which  he  represented.  It  was  in  his  capacity  as  For- 
eign Secretary,  that  Dr.  Milnor  represented  the  American  Bible 
Society  in  London,  during  the  great  anniversaries  in  the  spring 
of  1830. 

"  But  his  most  important  services  in  this  cause  were  ren- 
dered, in  connection  with  committees  and  the  board,  in  the  trans- 
action of  business.  For  many  years  he  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  versions  ;  a  committee  whose  duty  it  was  to 
examine  and  certify  the  correctness  of  all  the  Scriptures  pub- 


600  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

lished  and  circulated  in  various  languages,  at  home  and  abroad. 
After  the  publication  of  the  facsimile  copy  of  '  King  James' 
Bible'  in  1837,  he  and  hisj  associates  on  the  committee,  aided  by 
a  skilful  proof-reader,  compared  that  issued  by  the  society  with 
"die  copy  referred  to,  and  carefully  noted  every  instance  of  change 
which  in  the  course  of  two  centuries  had  occurred.  This,  of 
itself,  was  a  labor  of  no  ordinary  magnitude,  and  resulted  in 
giving  to  the  society  a  standard,  for  which  all  its  members  and 
friends  should  be  grateful."     .o>;   .    ^  us^a  :trj  i.y\j&  %^i:,  .10  ;  ;*:.:^i 

It  was  while  Dr.  Milnor  held  the  place  of  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  versions,  that  the  unhappy  controversy  arose 
which  resulted  in  the  withdrawment  from  the  union  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  in  the  separate 
organization  of  a  society  for  the  preparation  and  distribution  of 
the  Scriptures.  The  origin  of  that  controversy  was,  a  request 
from  the  English  Baptist  missionaries  in  Bengal,  for  aid  from  the 
American  Bible  Society  in  publishing  a  version  of  the  Bengalee 
Scriptures,  in  which  the  Greek  terms  baptize  and  baptism 
were  translated  by  words  signifying  immerse  and  immersion ; 
and  which,  for  this  reason,  the  Calcutta  Bible  Society  had  refused 
to  patronize.  Without  being  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  Burmese 
translation  by  Dr.  Judson,  was  made  on  the  same  principle, 
the  American  Bible  Society  had  aided  in  circulating  this  latter 
version ;  and  hence  the  Baptists  of  Bengal  supposed  there  would 
be  no  objection  to  aid  in  publishing  the  Bengalee  version  which 
they  had  prepared.  When,  therefore,  upon  a  discovery  of  the 
facts,  the  American  Bible  Society  determined  to  follow  the 
example  of  that  of  Calcutta,  in  refusing  the  patronage  which 
was  asked,  the  Baptists  of  the  United  States  organized  a  sepa- 
rate institution.  It  was  a  subject  in  which  Dr.  Milnor  felt  a 
deep  interest,  and  took  a  kind,  yet  leading  and  decided  part ; 
a^id  when  the  managers  of  the  American  Bible  Society  felt  con- 
strained publicly  to  vindicate  their  principles  and  course  in  the 
matter,  the  work  of  preparing  their  vindication  was  assigned  to 
Dr.  Milnor  ;  a  work  which  he  performed  in  an  able  pamphlet  of 
sixteen  octavo  pages. 

"  For  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life.  Dr.  Milnor  was  also  chair- 
man of  the  committee  charged  with  the  duty  of.  making  arrange- 


RETROSPECT  OF   HIS    LIFE.  601 

ments  for  the  successive  anniversaries  of  the  society ;  and  it  was 
on  business  with  this  committee  that  he  made,  his  last  visit  to 
the  Bible  house.  At  this  meeting  the  arrangements  for  the 
twenty-ninth  anniversary  were  completed ;  the  speakers  were 
engaged,  the  place  of  meeting  for  the  anniversary  was  secured^, 
and  all  things  were"  ready.  But  when,  a  few  days  afterwards, 
the  anticipated  gathering  of  the  friends  of  the  Bible  took  place, 
he,  who  had  done  so  much  towards  giving  shape  and  order  to  the 
proceedings,  was  not  there.  He  had  been  called  from  his  willing 
labors,  and  had  entered  on  his  gracious  reward." 

The  following  is  the  notice  of  his  character  and  services  which 
the  Board  of  Managers  took  in  their  twenty-ninth  report : 

"  Within  a  few  days,  one  who  had  been  a  devoted  fellow- 
laborer,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  this  anniversary,  has  been  called  in  a  moment  from 
his  associates,  leaving  a  vacancy  in  the  society  which  few  or  none 
can  fill.  It  may  not  be  improper  to  record,  with  more  minute- 
ness, some  of  the  qualities  which  rendered  Dr.  Milnor  so  pecu- 
liarly useful  in  this  institution. 

"  One  quality  was  his  familiarity  with  business.  Having 
been  trained,  in  early  life,  to  the  legal  profession,  and  for  many 
yeai's  engaged  in  it,  as  well  as  occupied,  to  some  extent,  in  legis- 
lative proceedings,  he  was  prepared  oftentimes  to  render  a  service 
here  which  ordinary  clergymen  could  not.  On  questions  con- 
nected with  finance,  making  of  contracts,  charitable  bequests, 
and  rules  of  order,  his  counsels  were  often  of  great  service. 

"  Another  quality  was  his  candor,  or  freedom  from  prejudice.- 
In  a  body  like  this,  composed  of  men  educated  and  trained  under 
very  differing  circumstances,  it  might  be  expected  that  questions 
difficult  of  adjustment  would  sometimes  arise.  Occasionally 
they  did  arise.  But  the  deceased  approached  all  such  questions 
with  a  frankness,  sincerity,  and  kindness  of  manner  which  se- 
cured the  confidence  of  his  associates,  making  them  feel  that 
truth  and  right  were  the  only  objects  of  his  aim.  All  listened 
with  candor  to  what  he  proposed.  His  open  and  courteous  de- 
meanor in  this  body,  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  has 
had  much  to  do  in  promoting  that  harmony  and  mutual  confi- 
dence which  so  generally  prevail  in  its  deliberations. 


602  •  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

'  "Another,  and  a  crowning  quality,  was  his  scriptural  and 
catholic  piety.  "While  he  was  sincerely  and  avowedly  attached 
to  the  peculiarities  of  his  own  denomination,  he  could  rejoice  in 
discovering  the  image  of  Christ  under  any  outward  form ;  and 
where  he  could  consistently,  he  united  with  those  who  bore  that 
image,  in  diffusing,  among  the  ignorant  and  perishing,  the  bless- 
ings of  a  common  Christianity.  In  the  Bible  cause,  this  noble, 
fraternal  spirit  had  ample  scope.  Having  one  common  book  to 
prepare  and  circulate — and  that  the  divine  book — and  receiving 
it  heartily  as  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  he 
could  labor  with  his  might  for  its  diffusion ;  and,  to  enlarge  the 
measure  of  success,  could  unite  with  all  whp  held  it  in  like  esti- 
mation, and  thus  aim,  if  possible,  to  impart  its  light  to  every 
benighted  creature. 

"  Qualities  like  these,  united  with  a  rare  cheerfulness  and 
urbanity  of  manners,  not  only  rendered  the  deceased  of  great 
service  to  this  institution,  but  made  him,  at  the  same  time,  one 
of  the  most  endeared  of  friends.  There  is  no  one  of  his  associ- 
ates but  feels  that  he  has  sustained  a  personal  loss,  and  all  will 
cherish  in  sweet  remembrance  the  bright  example  which  has  been 
so  long  before  them." 

Thus  far  the  annual  report.  The  following  remarks  by  Dr. 
Brigham  are  in  the  same  spirit :  "  I  became  connected  with  the 
society  in  1826,  young  and  inexperienced.  I  felt  the  need  of 
much  counsel,  and  sought  it  from  those  who  had  been  long  con- 
nected with  the  board.  As  Dr.  Milnor  still  performed  many  of  the 
duties  of  foreign  secretary,  and  was  chairman  of  one,  and  some- 
times of  two  standing  committees,  I  was  led,  as  a  matter  of  ne- 
cessity, to  seek  his  advice,  I  was,  at  times,  obliged  to  call  on  him 
when  he  was  pressed  with  business,  and  more  than  once  or  twice 
to  see  him  in  his  sick  room,  and  in  more  or  less  pain.  Yet  in  all 
my  interviews  with  him,  I  never  found  him  irritable  or  repulsive, 
but  ever  kind,  affable,  and  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  solve 
my  doubts,  and  help  on  the  good  cause  in  which  wc  were  engaged. 

"  On  committees  he  was  ever  punctual,  courteous,  intelligent, 
and  of  course  influential ;  and  it  was  always  felt,  by  his  associ- 
ates, to  be  a  pleasure  thus  to  labor  with  him  in  th^ir  great  com- 
mon cause.  .  •  • 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  603 

"One  noble  trait  in  his  character  I  early  noticed,  and  have 
often  had  occasion  to  admire ;  I  mean  his  candor,  his  readiness 
to  recognize  and  follow  truth,  wherever  and  whenever  discerned, 
without  inquiring  what  this  or  that  man  or  party  would  say.  I 
have  seen  him,  after  earnestly  defending  one  side  of  a  question, 
find,  on  presentation  of  evidence,  that  he  had  been  mistaken: 
and  then,  with  a  disinterested  frankness,  say  that  he  saw  reason 
to  change  his  views  and  his  vote.  I  have  seen  him  do  this  when 
very  few  would  have  done  so,  although  all  were  constrained  to 
admire  his  course.  This  sincere,  catholic  spirit  of  his  has  had 
much  to  do  in  giving  harmony  to  the  operations  of  the  board ; 
and  my  hope  is,  that  a  remembrance  of  his  example  will  long 
exert  a  salutary  influence." 

It  is  of  course  impossible,  from  so  brief  a  statement  as  the 
foregoing,  even  with  the  aid  of  what  has  been  said  in  earlier 
pages  of  the  Memoir,  to  estimate  truly  the  amount  of  labor  which, 
in  the  course  of  nine  and  twenty  years,  must  have  been  per- 
formed by  so  active  and  ever-punctual  a  member  of  the  Bible 
Society.  Numberless  special  efforts,  journeys,  speeches  on  plat- 
forrtis,  and  other  calls  to  duty,  must  lie  unobserved  of  us,  though 
at  the  time  they  neither  wanted  observation,  nor  were  unaccom- 
panied by  toil.  One  only  of  these  many  engagements  now  lies 
on  record  before  the  writer,  in  the  shape  of  a  vote  of  thanks  from 
the  board  of  managers  for  the  "  truly  catholic  and  excellently 
appropriate  address,''^  which  he  delivered  "on  occasion  of  the 
first  meeting  of  the  managers  in  their  new  rooms,"  about  the 
1st  of  January,  1823,  accompanied  by  a  request  that  he  would 
"  furnish  a  copy  thereof  for  publication." 

But  although  the  amount  of  his  labors  may  not  be  easily 
estimated,  yet  the  importance  of  his  position,  and  the  dignity 
with  which  he  maintained  himself  in  it,  may  without  difficulty 
be  apprehended.  In  that  position,  indeed,  he  was  strongly  as- 
sailed by  influences  which  it  was  most  difficult  to  resist.  But 
he  stood  firm  till  the  storm  of  opposition  and  obloquy  had  spent 
its  force,  and  then  for  long  years  calmly  maintained  his  stand- 
ing amid  the  sunshine  of  general  favor ;  Christians  of  all  Prot- 
estant names  admiring  his  consistency  and  his  constanoy,  and 


604  MEMOIR   OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

multitudes  of  his  own  denomination  in  particular,  rallying  round 
him  in  the  heavenly  cause  of  union  for  the  dissemination  of  the 
pure  word  of  God.  In  this  latter  respect  his  influence  was  pre- 
cious. To  his  quiet  perseverance  the  Episcopal  Church  owes 
much  of  its  present  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  American  Bible 
Society.  Had  he  quailed  before  the  stern  frown  of  opposition, 
spirits  of  feebler  nerve  would  never  have  ventured  to  meet  the 
intimidation.  But  he  lived  long  enough  to  see  that  frown  die  of 
self-exhaustion;  and  now  the  cause  has  a  hold  on  our  church 
which  cannot  easily  be  broken.  Henceforth,  it  is  opposition  that 
will  be  afraid  to  take  its  stand  in  public.  It  may  murmur  in 
private,  but  it  is  too  feeble  for  overt  acts.  The  cause  of  union, 
the  union  of  Christian  hearts  and  labors,  without  any  sacrifice  of 
essential  principles,  is  incalculably  indebted  to  the  dignified  stand 
so  firmly  taken  and  so  calmly  held  by  the  late  rector  of  St. 
George's. 

n.    DR.  MILNOR's  connection  with  the  AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY. 

This  was  but  the  consistent  carrying  out  of  the  principle 
involved  in  his  connection  with  the  American  Bible  Society.  If 
the  Bible  contain  the  whole  of  a  common  Christianity,  and  be 
the  only  infallible  standard  of  its  truths,  so  as  to  render  a  union 
of  Christians  for  the  distribution  of  the  Bible  desirable  and 
practicable,  and  at  the  same  time  a  suitable  visible  expression 
of  the  unity  which  reaches  and  includes  all  really  Bible  Chris- 
tians, then  certainly  there  must  be  a  unity  which  extends  to  a 
still  further  point.  A  unity  which  includes  those  who  recognize 
the  Bible  as  their  only  standard  of  infallible  authority,  clearly 
supposes  that  there  is,  in  the  Bible,  a  body  of  truths  or  doctrines 
which  are  held  and  cherished,  if  not  by  all  who  call  themselves 
Christians,  yet  by  all  who  really  are  Christians ;  that  these  truths, 
or  doctrines,  however  men  may  differ  about  other  things  in  the 
Bible,  are  certainly  discoverable;  that  the  unity  of  true  Chris- 
tians, in  holding  them,  is  not  a  vision  of  something  that  ought 
to  be,  but  a  verity  that  actually  exists;  and  that,  therefore,  of 
this  unity  also  there  ought  to  be  some  visible  expression,  some 
recognized  badge.  This  expression  and  badge,  then,  of  the  unity 
of  all  true  Christians  in  holding  the  essential  and  vital  truths  or 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  605 

doctrines  of  a  common  Christianity,  are  what  tlie  organization 
of  the  American  Tract  Society  was  designed  to  furnish.  This 
institution  is  organized  on  the  principle  of  publishing  and  circu- 
lating those  truths  only  which  all  evangelical  Christians  agree 
in  regarding  as  vital;  that  is,  essential  to  salvation,  or  sufficient, 
when  blessed  by  the  Spirit,  and  received  into  the  faith  of  the 
heart,  to  insure  the  salvation  of  all  who  thus  receive  them.  The 
institution  is  based  on  two  great  axioms  in  Christian  ethics: 

1.  That  it  is  idle  to  expect  that  all  true  Christians  will  think 
exactly  alike,  or  adopt  precisely  the  same  opinions  on  all  external, 
or  even  all  subordinate  internal  points  of  the  Christian  system. 

2.  That  it  is  worse  than  idle,  it  is  disastrous  to  the  best  hopes  of 
the  Gospel,  to  allow  the  divisions  which  have  taken  place  upon 
external,  or  upon  subordinate  internal  points  of  Christianity,  to 
run  into  total  and  hostile  separations,  so  as  to  leave  no  visible 
sign  or  badge  of  the  unity  which  really  exists  in  matters  both 
internal  and  essential,  marking  all  true  Christians  as  one  saved 
body  in  Christ.  Such  is  the  standing  point  of  the  American  Tract 
Society.  It  leaves  all  Christians  unmolested  in  their  opinions, 
and  support  of  opinions,  on  points  not  fundamental,  and  seeks  the 
union  of  all  true  Christians  under  at  least  one  outward  sign  and 
badge  of  their  real  unity  in  whatever  is  essential  or  sufficient  to 
salvation.  In  dignity  and  value,  beauty  and  loveliness,  it  is  twin 
sister  to  the  Bible  Society;  second  in  birth,  and  only  second  in 
its  claims  to  profound  affection  and  regard. 

Dr.  Milnor  felt  all  this  in  the  deepest  sensibilities  of  his  re- 
newed nature.  He  saw  Christians  of  various  names  acknow- 
ledging one  Bible,  yet  wanting  something  visible  and  tangible  to 
show  that  they  all  belonged  to  one  and  the  same  body  of  Christ. 
The  moment,  therefore,  the  plan  of  the  American  Tract  Society 
was  submitted  to  him  in  his  sick  room,  in  the  winter  of  1825,  just 
after  he  began  his  return  from  the  brink  of  the  grave,  he  adopted 
it  with  the  freest,  fullest  action  of  his  feelings  and  his  judgment, 
inserted  permanent  modifications  into  its  constitution,  and  identi- 
fied himself  for  life  with  its  founders,  its  history,  and  its  fortunes. 
An  account  of  these  incidents  has  already  been  given,  but  of  all 
that  followed  little  or  nothing  has  yet  been  said.  Dr.  Milnor's 
labors  in  the  Tract  Society  were  even  more  abundant  than  those 


606  MEMOIR  OF  DR.   MILNOR. 

in  the  Bible  cause.  Its  faithful  Secretary,  however,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hallock,  who  laid  the  plan  of  the  society  before  Dr.  Milnor  in  his 
sick  room,  and  who  continued  to  labor  with  him  until  his  death,  has 
furnished  us  with  the  materials  for  such  a  statement  as  is  needed 
to  bring  out  this  part  of  the  Memoir  into  proper  distinctness. 

"New  York,  Jan.  29,  1846. 
"  Rev.  Dr.  Stone, 

"  Respected  and  dear  Sir — I  present  you  herewith  copies  of 
letters  and  documents  written  by  Dr.  Milnor,  to  which  you  may 
wish  to  refer  in  preparing  his  Memoir,  They  may  serve  as  way- 
marks  of  his  labors  for  twenty  years  in  connection  with  the  Amer- 
ican Tract  Society.  But  what  he  did  and  desired  for  this  insti- 
tution better  appears  in  its  nearly  twelve  hundred  publications, 
stereotyped  under  his  sanction,  together  with  two  thousand  ap- 
proved for  circulation  in  foreign  lands ;  in  the  spread  of  the  So- . 
ciety's  influence  in  this  and  other  countries ;  and  in  the  multi- 
tudes already,  by  these  means,  brought  into  the  kingdom  of 
Christ,  and  established  in  the  hope  of  their  eternal  salvation.  It 
is  more  fully  written  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  so  long  and  so 
happily  cooperated  with  him  in  these  works  of  Christian  benefi- 
cence. But  it  is  fully  known  to  God  only,  who  saw  every  im- 
pulse of  his  benevolent  heart,  listened  to  every  prayer  which  he 
offered  for  divine  direction,  and  watched  every  hour  of  thQ  conse- 
cration of  his  active  and  finely  balanced  mind  to  the  great  results 
already  achieved,  and  destined,  as  we  trust,  long  to  bless  our 
revolted  world.  In  reference  to  this  object,  his  course  was  one 
and  the  same  from  the  hour  when  it  was  first  proposed  to  him, 
to  that  in  which  God  called  him  to  rest  with  his  Redeemer 
above. 

"  The  impressions  made  on  my  mind,  at  my  first  interview 
during  his  illness,  were  but  deepened  by  his  uniform  course 
through  twenty  years.  Knowing  the  pressure  of  his  public  du- 
ties, I  felt  bound  not  needlessly  to  engross  a  moment  of  his  time. 
But  his  ear  was  ever  open.  If  the  cause  of  Christ  demanded 
either  counsel  or  labor,  he  was  ready  to  give  it ;  and  I  can  truly 
say,  that  in  all  he  counselled  and  all  he  did,  a  supreme  desire  to 
honor  the  Redeemer  by  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom  in  the 
eternal  welfare  of  men,  and  a  desire  cordially  to  unite  evangeli- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  607 

oal  Christians  of  every  name  in  the  work  of  God^  seemed  the  pre- 
dominant motives  of  his  heart.  I  think  it  no  disparagement  to 
any  other  man,  living  or  dead,  to  say,  that  I  know  of  no  one  who, 
exceeded  Dr.  Milnor  in  genuine  catholic  feeling.  Perhaps  few, 
if  any,  ever  did  so  much  to  bind  together  truly  evangelical  Chris- 
tians. He  himself  was  a  bond  that  united  thousands.  His  piety 
towards  God  and  his  love  towards  man  were  deep  and  enduring  ; 
and  his  affection  for  the  great  foundation-truths  of  the  Gospel,  of 
vital  godliness,  of  the  religion  that  humbles  man,  exalts  God,  and 
trusts  in  nothing  but  atoning  blood  and  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  was  stronger  than  death. 

"  Every  important  measure  adopted  by  the  Society  previous 
to  his  demise,  passed  under  his  sanction,  and  received  his  cordial 
concurrence.  Every  annual  report  was  prepared  under  his  super- 
vision, and  every  anniversary  was  honored  by  his  presence,  except 
the  report  and  the  anniversary  for  1830,  when  he  went  a  delegate 
to  the  London  Tract  Society.  His  public  addresses  had  a  pow- 
erful interest;  and  if  any  new  modes  of  operation 'or  other  sub- 
jects of  importance  were  to  be  presented,  the  duty  was  usually 
devolved  on  him,  and  was  in  all  cases  most  acceptably  and  suc- 
cessfully performed.  His  talents  for  business,  and  for  presiding, 
whether  at  large  deliberative  meetings,  or  in  the  small  commit- 
tee ;  his  intuitive  discernment  of  propriety ;  his  promptness  in 
decisions ;  his  facility  and  despatch  in  reaching  desired  results ; 
his  dignity,  mingled  with  sweetness,  and  sometimes  almost  play- 
fulness of  manner  ;  his  uniform  kindness  and  courtesy,  and  far- 
reaching  benevolence,  rendered  his  presence  always  attractive, 
and  won  him  the  love  and  the  confidence  of  all  who  cooperated 
with  him. 

"As  an  illustration  of  the  reference  to  his  'sweetness  and 
almost  playfulness  of  manner,'  when  presiding  on  committees, 
the  following  incident  occurs  to  memory.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  when  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  Peter  Browne, 
her  majesty's  charge  d'affaires  at  Copenhagen,  had  been  read, 
expressing  the  most  evangelical  and  catholic  sentiments,  'I 
presume,'  said  the  chairman,  '  that  the  writer  of  that  letter  must 
be  Bxi  Episcopalian ;  first,  from  his  orthodoxy,  and  second,  from 
his  love  of  Christian  v/nion  /'     There  was  a  mingled  gravity  and 


608  '  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

pleasantry  perfectly  intelligible  in  his  manner,  which  very  hap- 
pily reminded  the  circle  of  the  confidence  and  Christian  union 
which  they  were  themselves  enjoying. 

"  He  manifested  to  tlie  last  a  growing  attachment  to  the  So- 
ciety ;  and  perhaps  no  man  ever  presided  so  long  over  commit- 
tees so  unanimous,  and  united  by  so  sacred  a  bond.  I  think  it  is 
a  fact,  that  he  never  heard  '  nay '  but  in  one  single  instance,  to 
any  question  which,  as  chairman  of  the  Tract  Society's  commit- 
tees, he  put,  during  the  whole  course  of  his  twenty  years'  con- 
nection with  them ;  and  in  that  instance  the  resolutions  were 
reconsidered,  and  a  unanimous  result  reached. 

"  As  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  his  counsel  was 
sought  on  all  important  questions  coming  before  them ;  and  as 
chairman  of  the  Publishing  Committee,  residing  near  the  Socie- 
ty's house,  and  with  the  promptness  and  facility  in  business 
alluded  to,  almost  every  publication  examined,  went  to  him  first ; 
and  as  those  which  he  judged  unworthy  of  further  examination 
were  not  sent  to  the  other  members,  he  had  a  larger  share  of 
reading  than  the  rest.  Generally,  he  completed  the  examina- 
tions at  the  earliest  practicable  hour  ;  wrote  his  decisions  in  neat 
notes,  that  might  be  at  hand  when  the  committee  should  meet 
for  final  action,  or  that  would  be  available  in  case  of  his  sudden 
death,  or  providential  absence  ;  and  promptly  returned  the  books 
or  manuscripts,  that  those  which  were  to  be  read  by  others  might 
be  transmitted  without  needless  delay.  At  the  hour  of  his  death, 
two  such  notes  were  actually  in  the  Society's  house,  prepared  for 
meetings  which  he  did  not  live  to  attend ;  and  one  of  the  two 
was  a  renewed  and  noble  expression  of  his  catholic  feeling. 

"  Near  the  close  of  his  life,  occurred  an  incident  as  interest- 
ing and  as  tender  as  any  thing  in  the  incipient  stages  of  the 
Society's  existence. 

''A  highly  respectable  delegation  from  the  committee  of  the 
Branch  American  Tract  Society  at  Boston,  spent  three  days  with 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Society  in  New  York,  carefully 
considering  the  facts  of  its  history,  and  the  principles  on  which 
its  operations  had  been  conducted.  Almost  the  first  murmur  of 
complaint  against  the  Society  had  recently  been  heard ;  and  it 
seemed  to  assume  the  form  of  a  question  whether  the  Society's 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  609 

publications  and  aims  were  thoroughly  and  soundly  spiritu^V  and 
evangelical.  This  led  to  a  review  of  the  principal  facts  in  the 
Society's  history,  and  of  the  aims  and  motives  by  which  the 
members  of  the  committee  had  been  governed ;  and  called  up  the 
most  tender  recollections  of  what  God  had  done  for  the  Society, 
while  one  and  another  gave  a  narrative  of  the  past  as  it  had 
affected  his  own  mind.  A  large  number  of  the  original  officers 
were  present ;  and  all  the  scenes  of  twenty  years  presenting 
themselves  at  a  glance  to  the  tender  heart  of  our  beloved  chair- 
man, more  than  once  excited  emotions  which  found  relief  in 
tears,  and  more  than  once  prompted  him  to  call  on  some  one  to 
address  the  throne  of  grace.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  and 
last  day,  the  first  president  of  the  Society  unexpectedly  entered; 
and  addressing  the  chairman,  adverted  to  the  prayer,  and  hope, 
and  ties  of  Christian  love,  in  which  the  institution  was  founded, 
and  to  the  evident  smiles  of  God  which  had  attended  all  its 
course.  The  chairman  commenced  a  reply ;  but  overcome  by 
tender  recollections,  was  obliged  to  sit  down  and  compose  him- 
self before  proceeding.  On  that  occasion,  he  reminded  the  circle 
around  him,  that  he  had  often  thought  his  other  and  arduous 
duties  might  compel  him  to  relinquish  his  labors  on  the  Publish- 
ing Committee ;  but  he  now  assured  them,  that  while  those  labors 
should  be  needed,  and  while  God  spared  his  life,  they  should  not 
be  withheld. 

"  But  I  will  not  add.  His  record  is  on  high.  It  cannot  be 
fully  given  here.  It  is  ever  pleasant  to  dwell  on  his  memory. 
God  be  praised  for  what  he  was.  Thousands  love  the  Society  the 
better  for  all  he  did  in  it ;  and  the  thought'  makes  heaven  the 
sweeter  to  our  hope,  that  we  shall  there  join  our  beloved  chair- 
man in  praising  our  Redeemer  with  perfect  hearts  and  unfalter- 
ing tongues.  The  official  documents  of  the  Society  bespeak  the 
preciousness  of  his  memory  ;  and  God  hath  said  of  such  as  he, 
*  They  that  be  wise,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firma- 
ment ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for 
ever  and  ever.' 

"  With  great  respect  and  esteem, 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

"WILLIAM  A.  HALLOOK" 

Mem.Miliio<;  39 


610     <      '  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

The  letters  and  documents  which  accompanied  the  above 
most  valuable  and  acceptable  paper,  are  of  themselves,  as  illus- 
trative of  Dr.  Milnor's  connection  with  the  Tract  Society,  almost 
enough  for  a  volume.  Considering,  therefore,  the  size  which  the 
Memoir  has  already  reached,  it  must  suffice  to  add  a  small  selec- 
tion as  a  sample  of  the  whole. 

■,). 

"  The  following  practical  suggestions  by  Dr.  Milnor,  which 
were  inserted  in  the  fourth  annual  report  of  the  Society,  and 
afterwards  adopted  for  the  governance  of  the  Publishing  Commit- 
tee, give  an  idea  of  one  of  the  varieties  of  labor,  which  from  time 
to  time  have  devolved  on  that  hard-working  body. 

"  The  committee  take  this  occasion  to  state,  that  the  offers  of 
-premiums  for  tracts  have  become  so  numerous,  that  the  Publish- 
ing Committee  feel  compelled  to  relinquish  the  labor  and  respon- 
sibility of  examining  them  and  deciding  upon  their  merits.  The 
amount  of  labor  which  the  performance  of  this  duty  has  devolved 
upon  the  Publishing  Committee,  may  be  estimated  from  the  fact, 
that  in  the  selection  of  three  premium  tracts  and  ten  handbills, 
which  have  been  approved  during  the  past  year,  they  have  exam- 
ined, including  the  handbill  tracts,  452 ;  and  82  exclusive  of 
these  shorter  productions.  The  reasonableness  of  their  being 
relieved  from  the  heavy  responsibility  of  this  duty,  is  increased  by 
the  consideration  of  the  almost  unavoidable  dissatisfaction  with 
their  decisions,  which  will  be  felt  by  at  least  a  portion  of  those 
whose  productions  are  not  rewarded  by  the  offered  premium. 
The  difficulty  of  deciding  between  tracts  possessing  nearly  the 
same  degree  of  merit,  is  often  great ;  and  the  impracticability  of 
stating  to  the  authors  of  those  that  are  not  successful,  the  par- 
ticular grounds  of  preference  for  those  approved,  precludes  the 
committee  from  all  means  of  explanation.  The  seeming  disre- 
spect to  such  authors,  in  the  rejection  of  essays  which  have  cost 
them  much  labor,  and  often  possess  no  small  portion  of  intrinsic 
merit,  may  have  a  tendency  to  produce  feelings  of  alienation 
from  the  Society,  and  of  unkindness  towards  the  members  of  the 
Publishing  Committee.  These  evils  will  be  avoided,  and  every 
purpose  which  benevolent  individuals  may  have  in  view  in  the 
offer  of  premiums  for  tracts,  be  answered,  by  their  own  selec- 


RETROSPECT  OF   HIS  LIFE.  611 

tion  of  persons  to  whose  examination  the  manuscripts  may  be 
subjected ;  and  then,  if  it  be  desired  that  the  tract  to  which  the 
premium  is  awarded  be  published  by  this  Society,  it  may  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  determination  of  its  Publishing  Committee  how  far 
it  is  suitable  for,  admission  into  the  Society's  series  of  tracts." 

In  obedience  to  the  following  instructions.  Dr.  Milnor  per- 
formed very  important  labors  during  his  visit  to  London. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee,  March  11, 1830, 
it  was 

^^  Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor  be  requested,  in  his  con- 
templated visit  to  London,  to  ascertain,  as  far  as  practicable,  the 
origin  and  history  of  such  of  the  publications  of  the  Religious  Tract 
Society  in  that  city,  as  have  been  reprinted  by  the  American  Tract 
Society ;  especially  how  far  such  of  them  as  are  narratives,  are 
a  record  oi  facts ;  and  also  the  principles  on  which  the  London 
Tract  Society  have  proceeded,  in  relation  to  the  subject  of  issuing 
fictitious  publications."     It  was  also 

"  Resolved,  That  Dr.  Milnor  be  requested,  during  his  travels 
abroad,  to  obtain  all  such  information,  and  to  procure  a  copy  of 
such  publications  as,  in  his  opinion,  will  be  useful  in  the  future 
labors  of  this  committee." 

These  instructions,  it  may  be  proper  to  remark,  were  founded 
on  the  principle,  early  adopted  by  the  American  Tract  Society, 
that  religious  fiction  concurs  with  ordinary  novels  in  vitiating 
the  taste  and  morals  of  the  age ;  the  fiction  being  read  less  for 
the  valuable  truths  which  it  teaches,  than  for  the  unhealthy 
excitement  which  it  supplies.  On  this  ground,  the  narrative 
tracts  of  our  Society  are  believed  to  be  well-ascertained  facts ; 
and  in  this  respect,  the  institution  differs  from  many  of  the 
religious  authors  and  institutions  of  tlje  age,  who  have  not 
scrupled  to  employ  fiction  as  a  vehicle  of  religious  truth.  The 
only  apology  for  religious  fiction  lies  in  the  plea,  that  as  novel- 
reading  is  an  almost  universal  indulgence  of  our  times,  it  is  bet- 
ter that  children  should  read  those  fictions  which  may  possibly 
communicate  truth,  than  that  they  should  devour  those  which 
will  probably  instil  error.  This,  however,  leaves  out  of  view 
the  all-important  considerations,   that   religious  fictions,  early 


612  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

placed  in  the  hands  of  children,  ordinarily  generate  a  passion 
for  the  mischievous  and  more  exciting  novels  of  the  day  ;  that 
they  thus  become  the  prime  springs  of  corruption  to  their  liter- 
ary tastes,  unfitting  their  minds  to  feed  on  more  solid  and  whole- 
some nutriment,  and  stimulating  them  till  they  become  obese, 
or  bloated  by  the  masses  of  trash  which  they  devour  ;  and  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  press  to  counteract,  instead  of 
cooperating  with  one  of  the  most  serious  evils  that  threaten  the 
Christian  Church.  ,        •  ^  i 

Dr.  Milnor's  report  of  Ms  mission  to  the  London  Tract  Society,' 
is  contained  in  the  American  Tract  Magazine  for  January,  1831, 
as  is  also  the  account  of  his  visit  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  already 
embodied  in  this  Memoir. 

The  following  explains  itself,  and  shows  one  of  the  many  in- 
stances in  which  the  American  Tract  Society  has  aided  the  work 
of  foreign  missions.  It  was  written  in  1836,  while  Dr.  Milnor 
was  at  the  head  of  our  foreign  executive  committee. 

"Office  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Committee  ) 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.       ) 

"Rev.  Mr.  Hallock,  Sec'y  Amer.  Tract  Soc. 

"  Dear  Sir — I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt, 
by  the  hands  of  your  Assistant  Treasurer,  of  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars ;  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  thereof  being  the  balance 
of  a  donation  from  your" — ^the  American  Tract  Society's — "  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  to  the  Foreign  Missionary  Committee  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church,  to  aid  in  the  publication  and  dis- 
tribution of  Tracts  by  the  missionaries  in  Greece,  and  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  a  like  donation  for  the  distribution  of 
Tracts  by  the  committee's  missionaries  in  China. 

"I  am  instructed  by  our  committee  to  convey,  through  you, 
to  the  Executive,  Committee  of  the  American  Tract  Society,  their 
cordial  thanks  for  this  additional  evidence  of  their  beneficence ; 
and  in  doing  so,  you  will  allow  me  to  add  the  assurance,  that  the 
missionaries  referred  to  will  be  instructed  to  apply  your  liberal 
grants  in  conformity  to  the  principles  which  you  have  heretofore 
communicated,  and  which  have  received  the  approval  of  those  to 
whom  is  committed  the.  immediate  direction  of  the  missionary 
operations  of  our  church.  :  r 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  613 

"Praying  that  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  may  bless  all 
the  efforts  of  Christians  for  the  world's  regeneration,  and  that  his 
special  favor  may  be  extended  towards  your  benevolent  exertions, 
I  remain,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 

"Your  obliged  friend  and  Christian  fellow-laborer, 

"JAMES  MILNOR,  Sec.  and  Gen.  Agent,  etc." 

The  following  series  of  notes,  a  part  only  of  a  much  larger 
collection  which  might  be  made,  presents  an  interesting  view  of 
Dr.  Milnor's  position  and  action  as  chairman  of  the  Publishing 
Committee,  and  is  valuable  as  embodying  some  of  his  opinions 
both  of  authors  and  of  doctrines. 

"  New  York,  April  8,  1839.     " 

"  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock-^— I  have  given  the  tract  of  Dr.  Alexan- 
der, No.  393,  on  Justification  by  Faith,  an  attentive  reading  in  its 
revised  form,  I  believe  it  to  be  a  correct,  scriptural,  and  clear 
view  of  the  important  doctrine  of  which  it  treats.  It  forms  a 
compendium  of  what  I  have  been  preaching  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  and  presents,  as  I  believe,  the  true  and  only  method  of  a 
sinner's  acceptance  with  God.  What  countless  contentions  would 
have  been  avoided,  if  this  precious  doctrine  had  been  adhered  to 
in  all  the  definiteness  of  the  apostle's  teachings  on  the  subject ; 
ajid  if  the  pride  of  men  had  not  led  to  so  many  contrivances  to  find 
some  other  way  of  salvation  than  that  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has 
so  clearly  revealed  in  the  sacred  Scriptures. 

"  Your  affectionate  brother  in  the  hopes  of  a  free  and  unadul- 
terated Gospel, 

■      .  "J.  MILNOR" 

DR.  Milnor's  judgment  of  law's  serious  call. 

"New  York,  April  8,  1839. 
"  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock, 

"Dear  Brother — I  very  much  question  the  expediency  of 

paying,  as  proposed,  for  the  abridgment  of  this  work.     There  are, 

besides  this,  three  other  abridgments :  one  by  I  know  not  whom ; 

a  second  by  John  Wesley  ;  and  a  third  anonymous,  published  by 

Hdtchard,  London,  in  1814.     I  do  not  know  whether  they  are  to 

be  procured:  but  perhaps  they  may,  and  may  be  found  preferable 

to  this ;  in  which  Case,  if  it  is  deemed  expedient  for  us  to  pub' 

Hsh  it  at  all,  one  of  them  might  be  used  without  expense  to  us, 


614  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR,; 

"Law  was  undoubtedly  a  most  devout  man;  and  as  this 
work  was  written  before  he  run  into  the  mysticism  of  Jacob 
BcEhmen,  it  is  free  from  the  peculiarities  of  that  singular  man, 
and  is,  in  truth,  in  one  view  a  very  useful  book.  As  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  folly,  sin,  and  danger  of  a  worldly  life,  and  of  the  supe- 
rior wisdom,  excellence,  and  happiness  of  a  life  of  piety  and  de- 
votion, it  is  calculated  to  he  practically  useful  in  a  high  degree. 
But  I  am  not  satisfied  with  the  reason  given,  in  the  preface  to 
the  abridgment,  for  his  not  laying  aright  the  foundation  of  his 
intended  superstructure.  He  is  deficient  in  not  beginning  with 
'repentance  towards  God,  faith  towards  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,' 
and  the  renewal  of  the  heart  by  divine  grace,  as  the  spring  of  all 
true  religion  and  all  practical  holiness.  Hannah  More,  in  her 
'  Strictures  on  Female  Education,'  assigns  Law  the  merit  of  deep 
insight  into  the  human  heart,  and  skill  in  probing  its  corruptions ; 
but  she  adds,  '  Yet  on  points  of  doctrine,  his  views  do  not  seem 
to  be  just ;  so  that  a  general  perusal  of  his  works  would  neither 
be  profitable  or  intelligible.'  She  adds,  '  Even  in  \hG  Serious 
Call,  Law  is  not  a  safe  guide  to  evangelical  light.  As  the  mor- 
tified apostle,  the  holy,  self-denying  Baptist,  preaching  repent- 
ance because  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,  Mr.  Law  has  no 
superior.  As  a  preacher  of  salvation  on  scriptural  grounds,  I 
would  follow  other  guides.' 

"  As  a  dissuasive  from  a  worldly,  and  an  exhortation  to  a  re- 
ligious life ;  as  recommending  fervent  and  unwearied  devotion, 
the  consecration  of  ourselves  and  all  we  have  to  God,  humility, 
love,  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  etc.,  no  work  is  superior.  But 
the  want  of  the  foundation  to  which  I  have  referred,  gives  a  self- 
righteous  aspect  to  the  whole,  which,  though  lessened  by  the  ex- 
punging of  numerous  particular  expressions  of  the  most  excep- 
tionable character,  still  leaves  it  without  that  evangelical  basis 
which  I  wish  all  our  publications  prominently  to  display. 

"  "With  so  much  to  admire  in  a  production  which  Dr.  Johnson 
characterized  as  'the  first  piece  of  hortatory  theology  in  any 
language,'  I  am  far  from  proscribing  it,  or  denouncing  it  as  a 
work  not  to  be  profitably  read ;  but  considering  that  there  is  in 
it  scarcely  an  allusion  of  a  distinct  and  decided  character  to  the 
great  subject  of  Dr.  Alexander's  tract" — which  he  had  just  ap- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFK  615 

proved — "  I  would  say  we  might  find  other  volumes  better  suited 
to  our  evangelical  library  than  this. 

"  Yours,  affectionately, 

"JAMES  MILNOR." 

The  next  two  notes  refer  to  one  of  the  Tract  Society's 
volumes,  entitled  '  Bible  Thoughts,  by  Melvill.''  The  volume 
consists  of  selections,  by  Dr.  Milnor,  from  Melvill's  published  dis- 
courses. 

"New  York,  Sept.  14,  1839. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Brother — I  have  read  over  all  the  sheets 
of  Melvill;  and  I  think,  corrected  a  number  of  errors  that  had 
been  overlooked.  With  a  good  margin,  it  will  make  a  beautiful 
volume ;  and  I  am  more  convinced  than  ever,  by  a  reperusal, 
that  our  labor  has  been  well  employed,  and  by  its  fruits  will  be 
well  rewarded,  in  getting  up  this  delightful  work  in  its  present 
form,  I  am  persuaded,  that  from  the  compactness  of  views  on 
the  several  topics  embodied  under  each  head,  and  the  direction  of 
the  mjnd  to  each  point  by  its  title,  it  is  destined  to  be  more  use- 
ful than  the  whole  volume,  of  which  it  contains  the  pith  and 
substance.  "  Yours,  truly, 

"J.  MILNOR." 

"Rev.  Mr.  Hallock." 

"New  York,  Nov.,  1839.    ' 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir — I  have  completed,  and  now  send  you 
my  selections  from  Melvill.  I  have  not  numbered  them,  because 
I  wished  your  judgment  as  to  the  arrangement ;  and  as  it  would 
derange  the  whole  if  alterations  should  be  afterwards  thought 
best,  I  have  let  them  remain  unnumbered,  but  placed  them  in 
the  order  which  I  think  in  the  main  will  be  approved. 

"  Be  good  enough  to  examine  them,  and  have  them  bound  in 

some  way,  and  then  return  them  to  me  with  your  remarks  for 

final  examination,  before  they  circulate  through  the  committee. 

"  Yours,  truly, 

"J.  MILNOR." 
"  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Hailock." 

ON  PUBLISHING  VENN's  COMPLETE  DUTY  OF  MAN. 

"New  York,  Aug.  16,  1841. 
"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir — It  is  several  years  since  I  read  Venn's 
Complete  Duty  of  Man  \  but  it  was  at  a  very  interesting  time  in 


616  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

my  religious  course,  and  has  ever  since  left  an  impression  on  iny 
mind  of  the  great  value  of  the  work.  I  have  refreshed  my  recol- 
lection now  by  turning  to  some  of  its  delightful  chapters ;  but  do 
not  think  it  necessary  to  detain  the  book  from  the  perusal  of  our 
colleagues.  If  it  commends  itself  to  their  approval,  as  it  does 
to  yours  and  mine,  no  unnecessary  time  will  be  lost  in  enriching 
our  volume  series  with  it. 

"  I  think  it  right  to  add,  that  this  work — as  well  as  -the 
evangelical  preaching  of  its  author — contributed  largely  to  rein- 
troduce into  the  established  Church,  or  rather  to  revive  the  slum- 
bering spirit  of  the  Reformation.  Simeon,  and  Parish,  and  Cecil, 
and  Scott,  and  the  Milners,  and  "Wilson,  and  a  host  of  others, 
have  in  succession  maintained  the  same  principles.  The  Chris- 
tian Observer  and  other  Episcopal  publications  of  the  same  spirit, 
are  walking  in  Venn's  footsteps,  and  under  God  will,  I  trust, 
form  an  effectual  barrier  to  the  assaults  on  spiritual  religion, 
which  are  now  made  by  the  more  than  semi-popish  Tractarians 

at  Oxford. 

"J.  MILNOR." 
'      "  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock." 

In  October,  1842,  a  public  deliberative  meeting  of  the 
board  and  friends  of  the  American  Tract  Society,  was  held  dur- 
ing most  of  three  days  in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York, 
at  the  call  of  the  Executive  Committee,  of  which  Dr.  Milnor  was 
chairman.  This  call  was  influenced  by  a  belief,  "that  careful 
attention  to  its  several  spheres  of  labor,  and  discussion  of  the 
principles  involved,  would  give  definiteness  to  the  conceptions  of 
many  as  to  its  character  and  objects,  and  thus  awaken  prayer, 
liberality,  and  persevering  effort,  to  bless  the  world  with  these 
means  of  grace."  Among  the  many  valuable  documents  pre- 
sented at  this  meeting,  was  the  following  from  Dr.  Milnor ;  and 
most  fully  does  it  breathe  the  spirit  which  characterized  and 
governed  his  life.  .  - 

'•'the  harmony  of  the  society's  proceedings. 
"  'Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together 

.  in  unity.' 
"Among  the  many  interesting  topics  deserving  of  notice  on 
this  extraordinary  assemblage  of  friends  of  the  American  Tract 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  617 

Society,  may  be  eminently  ranked  that  of  the  very  remarkable 
harmony  of  feeling  and  action  by  which  its  past  history  has  been 
distinguished.  It  would  be  ungrateful  to  that  divine  Being 
whoso  direction,  in  the  management  of  its  affairs,  has  been  so 
constantly  sought  by  its  conductors,  not  to  recognize,  thankfully 
and  devoutly,  his  special  providence,  and  the  benignant  guid- 
ance of  his  Holy  Spirit  in  all  the  way  in  which  he  has  hitherto 
brought  us.  , 

"  The  institution  had  its  basis  in  the  principle  of  brotherly^ 
love.  It  was  deemed  possible  for  the  disciples  of  a  common 
Saviour,  honestly  divided  from  each  other  on  some  points  of  doc- 
trine, discipline,  and  worship,  and  separated  into  different  com- 
munities, cordially  to  unite  in  the  dissemination  of  those  great 
truths  of  their  religion  in  which  they  harmoniously  concur,  and 
which  are  indissolubly  connected  with  the  eternal  well-being  of 
the  soul.  It  was  not  entirely  a  new  experiment.  Several  small 
associations  had  been  productive  of  much  good.  In  Great  Britain 
a  similar  effort,  on  a  large  scale,  had  been  attended  with  an 
astonishing  measure  of  success ;  and  it  may  be  added,  the  great 
Society  by  which  it  has  been  prosecuted  still  maintains  its  har- 
mony, and  continues  to  bless  that  country  and  the  world,  through 
its  nvimerous  publications,  with  invaluable  treasures  of  spiritual 
knowledge  and  practical  instruction.  Tract  societies,  both  here 
and  there,  owe  much  of  their  prosperity,  under  the  divine  favor, 
to  those  well-considered  principles  of  action  which  were  adopted 
at  the  outset  of  these  undertakings,  as  the  basis  of  Christian 
union. 

"  "With  whatever  delight  the  Christian  mind  may  contemplate 
the  happy  period,  how  distant  none  can  tell  but  He  who  '  knows 
the  end  from  the  beginning,'  when  on  all  points  the  followers  of 
Christ  shall  see  eye  to  eye,  be  ^  perfectly  joined  together  in  the 
same  mind,  and  in  the  same  judgment,'  and  all  uniie  under  one 
congenial  banner,  it  was  apparent  to  every  considerate  mind,  that 
there  were  existing  differences  of  opinion  and  practice  among 
evangelical  Christians,  which  in  such  a  combination  must  be  left 
untouched.  It  was  to  be  ascertained  in  what  doctrines  of  faith 
all  of  this  character  were  agreed ;  and  an  honest  understanding 
was  to  be  had,  that  to  such  their  united  endeavors  were  to  be 


618  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

implicitly  confined.  Happily,  little  difficulty  occurred  in  settling 
these.  'Man's  native  sinfulness;  the  purity  and  obligation  of 
the  law  of  God ;  the  true  and  proper  divinity  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  the  necessity  and  reality  of  his  atonement  and  sacrifice ; 
the  efficiency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  work  of  renovation ;  the 
free  and  full  offers  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  duty  of  men  to  accept 
it;  the  necessity  of  personal  holiness,  and  an  everlasting  state  of 
rewards  and  punishments  beyond  the  grave' — doctrines  dear  to 
the  hearts  of  all  evangelical  Christians,  were  the  declared  basis 
of  our  union.  Tliey  were  adopted  with  much  deliberation  and 
fervent  prayer,  and  they  have  continued  to  form  the  inspiring 
topics  of  more  than  a  thousand  different  publications,  including 
upwards  of  one  hundred  bound  volumes,  which  it  has  been  our 
privilege  to  issue.  By  a  faithful  adherence  to  these  original  terms 
of  association,  has  harmony  been  uninterruptedly  preserved  for 
the  nineteen  years  and  more  through  which  the  labors  of  this 
institution  have  been  so  happily  conducted. 
'  "  During  this  period,  no  tract  or  book  has  been  issued  but  with 
the  unanimous  approval  of  all  the  members  of  the  Publishing 
Committee,  consisting  of  a  representative  from  each  of  the  six 
evangelical  denominations  of  Christians.  To  whatever  extent 
any  denomination  may  have  thought  it  a  duty  to  spread  abroad 
a  knowledge  of  its  own  peculiarities,  this  has  been  its  own  sepa- 
rate and  exclusive  work :  we  have  scrupulously  adhered  to  the 
principles  on  which  our  union  is  based,  and  on  which  its  continu- 
ance depends. 

"  One  great  object,  however,  it  is  believed,  has  been  effected  by 
this  exhibition  of  harmonious  action.  Multitudes  have  become  dis- 
posed to  look  more  at  the  great  principles  of  their  blessed  religion, 
in  which  they  are  all  able  conscientiously  to  concur,  and  less  on 
those  in  which  they  unhappily  differ.  The  discovery  has  been 
satisfactorily  made  of  the  inferiority  in  number  and  magnitude 
of  the  latter,  compared  with  the  former.  The  beneficial  example 
of  its  divine  Author  has  become  more  an  object  of  assiduous 
imitation.  Where  discussion  has  been  had  on  subjects  which  are 
still  in  dispute  among  Christians,  less  of  asperity  Iras  been  seen  in 
the  pages  of  ijontroversy,  and  the  failure  to  convince  an  adversary 
has  not  often  been  followed  by  the  language  of  bitterness  and  de- 


RETROSPECT  OF   HIS  LIFE.  619 

nunciation.  It  has  been  seen  by  Protestant  churches,  that  just 
in  proportion  as  they  present  a  united  front  to  the  assaults  of  in- 
fidelity and  error,  and  the  machinations  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  will 
the  citadel  of  their  hopes  stand  firm  and  uninjured :  just  as  they 
spend  their  strengtl;!  in  mutual  contention,  will  their  common 
enemies  gain  advantage  over  them.  It  was  a  happy  step  towards 
that  unjon,  over  the  continued  subsistence  and  increase  of  which 
the  present  occasion  calls  upon  us  so  gratefully  to  rejoice,  when 
that  grand  association,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
originated,  whose  labors  have  given  to  the  world  more  than  four- 
teen million  copies  of  the  volume  of  inspiration,  and  multiplied 
the  means  of  conveying  its  blessed  truths  to  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  by  translations  into  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
languages  into  which  they  are  divided. 

"  The  establishment  of  Tract  Societies  by  Christians  of  differ- 
ent denominations,  was  a  further  advance  in  the  way  to  that  bless- 
ed consummation  when  all  discord  shall  cease ;  when  the  prin- 
ciples, and  objects,  and  modes  of  action  among  Christians  shall 
universally  coalesce ;  when  the  genius  and  spirit  of  the  Gospel 
shall  unite  their  hearts  in  Christian  love  ;  when  God  shall  be 
adored  as  the  universal  Father,  the  world  become  one  vast  fam- 
ily of  brethren,  united  to  him  and  one  another  by  the  blood  of 
Christ,  regenerated  by  his  Spirit,  and  prepared  to  cast  their 
crowns  before  the  same  Lord,  and  rend  the  concave  of  heaven 
with  one  harmonious  shout  of  praise. 

"  In  the  retrospect  of  the  past  doings  of  this  institution  and 
their  results,  they  who  have  been  most  intimately  connected 
with  its  transactions,  have  reason,  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  im- 
perfections of  their  own  agency  therein,  to  exult  in  multiplied 
evident  manifestations  of  divine  favor  towards  it.  Especially  do 
they  rejoice  in  the  delightful  fact  to  which  these  remarks  are  in- 
tended to  have  especial  reference — ^the  preservation,  thus  far,  of 
perfect  unity  and  concord  among  its  officers  and  members,  and 
the  confirmation  which  this  affords  of  every  glowing  anticipation 
of  its  friends  as  to  its  future  progress. 

"For  the  promotion  of  this  end  let  us  improve  our  present 
assemblage.  For  this  let  our  united  prayers  ascend  to  heaven, 
and  our  best  endeavors  be  exerted.     A  dutiful  spirit  should  de- 


620  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILlSrOR.  -         . 

light  to  recur  to  the  precepts,  and  a  living  faith  to  lay  hold  of  the 
promises  of  God.  "Where  is  one  to  be  found  among  the  former 
which  gives  countenance  to  disunion  and  discord  ?  Where  is 
there  one  among  the  latter  that  assures  any  recompense  of  bless- 
ing to  a  contentious  and  litigious  spirit  ?  The  religion  of  Jesus 
is  a  religion  of  love.  It  Vy^as  this  hallowed  principle  in  which  the 
Gospel  originated,  and  its  too  partial  prevalence  has  been  the 
chief  obstacle  to  its  predicted  universal  sway.  Its  final  success 
ean  never  obtain,  until  the  same  mind  is  possessed  by  his  people 
that  was  in  Christ  their  divine  Head,  and  their  combined  and  un- 
embarrassed efforts  are  united  for  his  glory  and  the  salvation  of 
mankind.  A  wide  field  lies  open  before  us.  Millions  of  heathen 
implore,  in  their  destitution,  the  exercise  of  our  benevolence  to- 
wards them.  Other  millions  of  nominal  Christians,  if  in  their 
blindness  they  ask  not,  we  know  need  our  interposition,  to  pour 
into  their  minds  the  light  of  heavenly  truth,  and  recall  them  to 
the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ.  Still  many  a  waste  place  of  our 
Own  land  reproaches  the  narrowness  and  lassitude  of  our  exer- 
tions, while  grateful  multitudes,  in  regions  which  our  efforts  have 
availably  reached,  bless  God  for  that  concentrated  union  of  action 
which  has  sent  them  our  publications  to  light  them  on  their  way 
to  heaven.  Experience  has  proved  that  our  plan  of  union  in  this 
work  of  benevolence  is  not  visionary  or  Utopian.  It  contemplates 
no  improper  interference  with  any  of  the  departments  into  which 
the  family  of  Christ  is  divided. 

"  Let  no  means  employed  by  individual  churches  for  the  glory 
of  the  Redeemer  and  the  salvation  of  those  for  whom  Christ  has 
died,  be  disregarded  or  esteemed  of  light  importance.  Let  the 
living  ministry  be  respected  as  a  most  honored  institution,  a 
divine  appointment,  having  the  promise  of  the  Church's  Head  to 
the  end  of  time.  Let  each  distinct  branch  of  the  vast  household 
of  faith  employ  the  means  entrusted  to  it  by  a  gracious  Provi- 
dence, to  promote  the  great  ends  contemplated  by  divine  mercy 
and  goodness  to  our  fallen  race.  But  leLthe  broader  principle  of 
united  action,  so  sanctioned  of  God,  so  blessed  in  its  past  results, 
so  in  accordance  with  the  long  cherished  expectation  of  Christian 
faith  and  the  opening  prospects  of  millennial  glory,  never  be 
abandoned.     0,  it  would  grieve  the  soul  of  charity,  and  throw  a 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS    LIFE.  621 

gloom  over  the  brightening  prospects  of  futurity,  were  the  sacred 
union  of  Christians,  thus  happily  begun,  and  thus  successfully 
pursued,  to  be  dissolved,  or  in  any  measure  lessened  or  impaired. 
But  it  may  not  be.  The  sacred  bond  must  not  be  broken.  With- 
ered be  the  hand  that  would  attempt  its  severance.  Whilst  any 
portion  of  six  hundred  millions  of  unenlightened  heathen  remain 
to  be  brought  into  submission  to  the  Prince  of  peace  ;  while  dark- 
ness broods  over  the  superstitious  churches  of  the  East ;  while 
papal  Rome  is  seeking  to  extend  her  despotic  sway  over  the 
minds  of  men;  and  while  multitudes,  not  utterly  beyond  the 
influence  of  gospel  light  and  truth,  are  seen  crowding  the  broad 
road  that  leadeth  to  destruction ;  let  Christian  union  be  made 
the  means  of  counteracting  these  mighty  evils.  We  ask  object- 
ors to  a  plan  so  consonant  with  the  spirit  of^  the  Gospel,  what 
would  have  been  the  number  of  Bibles  circulated  within  the  last 
thirty-eight  years,  if  sectarian  jealousy  and  rivalship  had  been 
successful  in  preventing  the  establishment  of  that  magnificent 
monument  of  religious  enterprise,  with  the  thousands  of  its  prog- 
eny, of  the  vast  extent  of  whose  most  laudable  exertions  we 
have  already  spoken ;  and  how  many  precious  souls  would  have 
gone  unblessed  to  their  great  account,  had  not  the  great  Tract 
association  of  Great  Britain,  with  our  own  and  other  kindred 
unions,  disseminated  through  innumerable  channels  the  words  of 
life  and  salvation  in  the  little  pamphlet  or  the  more  enlarged 
volume? 

"  When  we  look  at  the  details  of  spiritual  good  effected  by  this 
joint  cooperation  which  stand  authenticated  and  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  our  Tract  Society  alone,  and  form  the  most  moderate 
conjecture  of  cases  which  have  never  met  the  public  eye,  we  are 
compelled  to  exclaim,  '  What  hath  God  wrought !'  And  when 
we  are  mourning  over  the  remaining  bitterness  of  party  spirit  in 
the  Church  or  in  the  world,  and  are  filled  with  grief  that  union 
is  not  the  watchword  with  all  that  love  their  Saviour  and  their 
fellow-men,  and  while  we  also  join  in  the  lamentations  of  our 
associates,  tbat  the  means  of  such  extensive  good  as  lies  before 
us  are,  by  so  many  who  profess  highly  to  appreciate  our  object, 
injuriously  withheld ;  we  may  perceive,  amidst  all  our  discour- 
agements, sources  of  pious  gratulation  for  the  past,  and  of  inspir- 


622  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

ing  hope  for  the  future,  that  should  feilence  our  complaints,  and 
lead  us  to  trust'  in  God  for  an  issue  to  our  labors  for  which  we 
shall  have  reason  to  praise  him  through  eternal  ages." 

The  foregoing  document  may  be  regarded  as  among  the  last 
of  Dr.  Milnor's  public  words  for  the  Tract  cause.  They  are 
glowing  words ;  and  they  show  that  to  the  end  his  heart  was  as 
full  as  ever  of  what,  at  the  outset,  filled  its  affections  to  over- 
flowing. The  Tract  Society  still  holds  its  course.  Its  operations 
have  become  wider  than  ever,  and  still  more  beneficent ;  and  in 
all  that  it  is  through  the  instrumentality  of  wise  counsel,  and  in 
all  that  it  is  doing'  by  the  labors  of  industrious  toil,  it  doubtless 
owes  as  much  to  Dr.  Milnor  as  to  any  other  man. 

The  present  writer  having  been  appointed  to  succeed  Dr. 
Milnor  on  the  Executive  and  Publishing  Committees  of  the 
American  Tract  Society,  though  not  as  chairman  of  those  com- 
mittees, has  some  grounds  for  knowing  whereof  he  affirms.  His 
predecessor's  name  needs  but  to  be  mentioned  among  the  band  of 
brethren  whom  he  has  left,  to  show  that  it  is  still,  in  some  sweet 
respect,  like  his  Master's,  "  as  ointment  poured  forth,"  giving  a 
precious  perfume.  He  can  also  well  appreciate  the  importance 
of  Dr.  Milnor's  position,  and  the  value  of  his  services,  in  an  insti- 
tution whose  receipts,  equalled  by  its  expenditures,  had  become, 
at  the  time  of  his  decease,  more  than  $150,000  per  annum  ;  and 
whose  hallowed  influence  in  the  cause  of  Christian  union  and  of 
man's  salvation,  is  increasingly  felt  in  the  speech  of  differing  na- 
tions, and  almost  literally  from  end  to  end  of  the  earth. 

nr.  DR.  milnor's  connection  with  the  cause  of  education. 

Allusions  to  this  have  from  time  to  time  been  made ;  and  yet  an 
adequate  impression  of  the  interest  which  he  felt,  and  of  the  time 
which  he  spent  in  this  cause,  might  not  be  received  without 
directing  a  more  special  attention  to  the  point.  The  additional 
remarks  needed,  however,  are  not  many. 

His  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  was  all-comprehending. 
It  started  with  the  application  of  Sunday-schools  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  most  ignorant  and  needy  classes ;  and  from  this  passed 
up  through  a  care  for  schools  of  every  grade,  till  it  reached  the 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  623 

supervision  of  theological  institutions  designed  to  train  men  for 
high  service  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

The  parish  church  of  St.  George  being  in  one  of  the  most 
densely  populated  districts  of  the  city,  and  there  being  always  a 
large  number  in  his  congregation,  both  male  and  female,  who 
were  willing  to  become  teachers,  several  distinct  Sunday-schools, 
at  one  time  no  less  than  six,  were  sustained  in  his  parish  :  a 
body  of  from  four  to  six  hundred  pupils,  regularly  instructed, 
and  much  of  his  own  time  devoted  to  a  general  supervision  of 
the  schools.  These  schools  were  usually  very  flourishing.  He 
was  fond  of  addressing  children ;  and  his  facility  in  extempore 
speaking  fitted  him  admirably  for  the  task,  while  his  winning 
manners  never  failed  to  interest  the  subjects  of  his  care.  The 
first  Sunday  afternoon  in  each  month  he  devoted  to  the  examina- 
tion of  the  schools  in  church.  On  these  occasions,  the  regular 
evening  service  was  read,  and  then  the  examination  was  begun. 
Many  a  child,  through  a  long  life,  and  peradventure  to  his  soul's 
saving,  will  remember  the  mild  blue  eye,  the  silvery  looks,  and 
the  white  robes  of  his  old  pastor,  as  he  stood  before  the  young 
assembly,  and  with  kind  and  gentle  yet  earnest  tones,  bid  each 
one  think  upon  his  Creator  while  he  was  yet  young,  and  before 
the  winter  of  life  should  scatter  its  snows  upon  his  head.  Beau- 
tiful sights  were  those  :  fathers  and  mothers  bringing  forward 
the  firstlings  of  their  little  flocks  to  be  set  apart  and  nurtured 
for  the  Lord.  The  fidelity  of  this  view  to  truth  is  guaranteed 
by  his  son's  ''Recollections,"  who  was  for  many  years  one  of 
his  father's  Sunday-scholars,  and  for  thirty  years  an  observer  of 
his  father's  interest  in  Sunday-schools. 

The  common-schools  of  the  state  of  New  York  also  shared 
his  solicitudes.  In  behalf  of  the  American  Tract  Society,  in 
particular,  he  applied,  in  the  year  1842,  to  the  Hon.  Samuel 
Young,  then  Secretary  of  State,  for  his  sanction,  as  "  Superin- 
tendent of  common-schools,"  to  the  measure  of  introducing  into 
the  common-school  libraries  of  the  state,  so  far  as  the  trustees 
of  each  school  district  should  consent,  that  portion  of  the  Tract 
Society's  publications  called  "  the  Youth's  Christian  Library ;" 
believing  that  such  an  introduction  would  be  "  found  of  incal- 
culable benefit  to  the  young." 


624  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR.- 

To  the  higher  educational  institutions  of  the  country  he  was 
an  earnest  friend.  '  To  Kenyon  college  his  services  were  inval- 
uable. From  Bristol  college,  Pennsylvania,  he  hoped  great 
things,  and  labored  zealously  to  realize  his  hopes,  until  rtieas- 
ures,  over  which  he  had  no  control,  resulted  in  the  total  loss  of 
that  once-cherished  and  favorite  institute.  Of  the  university 
in  the  city  of  New  York  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  and  for 
years,  a  member  of  the  council.  And  when  the  chapel  in  the 
new  university  buildings  was  opened  and  dedicated  to  the  relig- 
ious servipes  for  which  it  was  designed,  he  officiated  in  the  de- 
votional exercisesr  of  the  occasion,  by  the  offering  of  a  prayer, 
which,  in  its  humble  fervor,  and  its  comprehensive  requests,  told 
how  deeply  his  soul  felt  the  importance  of  education  in  its  clas- 
sical and  scientific,  legal  and  medical  departments,  as  well  as  in 
those  which  involve  more  immediately  the  interests  of  religion. 

And  finally,  with  all  the  leading  theological  seminaries  of 
the  Episcopal  church  he  was  more  or  less  closely  connected,  in 
the  capacity  either  of  a  trustee  or  of  a  patron  ;  though  it  need 
not  be  disguised,  that  the  diocesan  school  of  Yirginia  was  that 
in  which  his  interest  arose  from  sympathy,  while  that  in  New 
York,  though  a  general  institution  of  our  church,  awoke  in  him 
mainly  the  interest  of  solicitude. 

In  short,  under  whatever  aspect  the  cause  of  learning  pre- 
sented itself  before  his  mind,  he  was  its  enlightened,  efficient, 
and  true  friend":  enlightened^  because  he  saw  and  felt  its  im- 
measurable importance  to  the  opening  and  onward  destinies  of 
the  world ;  efficient,  bepause  he  cheerfully  devoted  time  and 
substance  to  its  support ;  and  true,  because  he  realized  most 
profoundly  the  necessity  of  baptizing  all  learning  into  the  spirit 
of  Christ  and  Christianity,  in  order  to  make  it  a  real  and  an 
unfailing  blessing  to  the  human  race.  ~ 

^  IV.    DR.  MILNOR's  position  IN  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

tJnder  this  head  an  interesting  history  might  be  written,  for 
Dr.  Milnor's  relation  to  the  cause  and  the  progress  of  evangelical 
truth  and  piety  in  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  minister,  was 
second  in  importance  to  that  of  no  other  man.  But  for  the 
present,  history  must  be  left  unwritten.     We  niust  content  our- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  625 

selves  with  something  less  than  even  annals  of  the  time  through 
which  we  have  been  passing.  Dr.  Milnor's  position  must  be 
seen,  but  we  must  be  content  with  saying  no  more  than  may  be 
necessary  to  make  that  position  evident. 

The  Episcopal  church ,  in  these  United  States  had  its  origin 
in  times  and  under  circumstances  far  from  propitious  to  the 
cause  of  evangelical  religion.  The  church  of  England,  before 
the  American  revolution,  was  not,  herself,  in  her  best  estate ; 
and  they  were,  by  no  means,  the  best  of  her  clergy,  whom  she 
sent  as  early  missionaries  to  these  her  growing  colonies.  Some 
worthy  men,  indeed,  the  list  of  those  missionaries  contained ; 
but  it  also  contained  many  worthless  ;  and,  theologically  speak- 
ing, few  or  none  of  them,  it  is  believed,  belonged  to  what  has 
since  been  known,  both  in  England  and  in  this  country,  as  the 
evangelical  school.  When  the  events  of  the  revolution  began 
to  transpire,  most  of  the  clergy  fled  to  the  mother  country  ;  and 
when  peace  returned,  few  indeed  ever  came  back  to  their  flocks 
in  the  wilderness.  Meanwhile,  red  war  had  swept  over  the 
land,  and  in  its  violence  had  not  only  expelled  every  form  of 
British  power,  but  also  extinguished  the  very  name  of  the  Eng- 
glish  church.  Some  fragments,  indeed,  of  what  once  bore  that 
name  remained ;  and  they  were  doubtless  the  most  vital  parts 
of  the  earlier  fabric — parts  that  had  enough  of  life  to  outlive 
the  wasting  desolation.  Still  they  survived,  like  wounded  and 
mutilated  soldiers.  They  did  not  quite  expire  amid  the  blood- 
iness of  the  conflict.  For  years  after  the  peace,  they  were  crip- 
pled and  extremely  feeble.  But  what  is  worse,  the  life  which 
they  retained  had  little  or  nothing  in  it  of  the  true  evangelical 
spirit.  And  yet  these  were  the  beginnings  from  which  the  pres- 
ent Episcopal  church  in  this  country  has  since  grown. 

The  war  had))een  waged  almost  as  much  against  episcopacy  as 
against  monarchy  ;  and  therefore,  when  the  Episcopal  church  be- 
came reorganized  in  this  country,  it  set  itself  to  contend,  if  not  as 
vigorously  against  republicanism  as  against  Puritanism,  at  least 
against  the  latter  as  the  historic  antagonist  of  both  the  prelacy 
and  the  kingship  of  former  days.  From  this  opposition  of  our 
Episcopal  church  to  the  Puritanism  of  revolutionary  times,  both 
its  early  theology  and  its  early  practice  received  not  only  an  anti- 

Mem.  Milnor.  40 


^26  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. ' 

puritanical,  but  also  an  anti-evangelical  stamp  and  tendency ; 
so  that  afterwards,  when,  by  very  slow  degrees,  the  evangelical 
spirit  began  to  manifest  itself  among  Episcopalians,  it  was  at 
once  met  with  the  most  determined  hostility.  The  idea  seemed 
to  be,  that  this  spirit  was  nothing  less  than  the  old  Puritanism 
itself  working  its  stealthy  way  into  the  Episcopal  fold,  because 
it  would  sometimes  pray  and  preach  without  book,  and  because  it 
held  doctrines  which  sounded  as  if  they  might  have  been  studied 
somewhere  within  the  shadow  of  Calvin's  great  name. 

The  most  conspicuous — probably  the  only  exception  to  the 
foregoing  remarks,  as  they  apply  to  the  times  which  preceded, 
accompanied,  and  immediately  followed  the  revolution — was  the 
casie  of  the  Rev.  Devereux  Jarratt  with  the  people  to  whom  he 
ministered.  He  was  a  great  light  within  the  circle  which  bound- 
ed his  labors,  but  that  circle  was  of  moderate  diameter,  and  he 
did  not  live  to  see  the  light  pass  much  beyond  its  circumference. 
Dinwiddle  county,  in  Virginia,  was  the  principal  scene  of  his 
labors,  and  it  was  only  on  occasional  invitations  that  he  was 
induced  to  travel  further,  and  preach  in  the  surrounding  coun- 
ties. He  was  the  subject  of  repeated  insult,  and  of  frequent  per- 
secution ;  and  after  he  died,  there  were  none  left  to  take  up  his 
mantle,  and  carry  forward  his  searching  prophesyings  and  his 
successful  labors. 

In  later  years,  however,  successors  to  his  spirit  and  in  his 
work  appeared  on  the  stage.  Almost  simultaneously,  Pilmore, 
Grriswold,  and  Richard  Channing  Moore  began  to  dispense  the 
true  light ;  the  first  in  Philadelphia,  the  second  in  Bristol,  R.  I., 
and  the  third  in  New  York.  Pilmore's  light  seemed  to  radiate 
in  lucid  words,  gathered  into  a  divine  order,  from  the  sacred 
page ;  Grriswold's  was  like  that  which  shone  in  his  own  calm, 
clear  eye — as  calm  and  clear  as  ever  unto  the  end ;  and  Moore's 
beamed  through  many  tears,  and  amid  much  vehement  pleading. 
As  we  have  already  seen,  Pilmore's  light  fell,  with  other  influ- 
ences, on  the  mind  of  Milnor.  From  their  times,  it  would  not 
be  easy  to  recall  the  names  of  all  who,  like  Meade,  and  Bedell, 
and  Mcllvaine,  and  Clark,  and  Johns,  and  Elliott,  have  arisen  to 
swell  the  evangelic  brightness,  and  to  deepen,  throughout  our 
church,  her  evangelic  life.     But'  all  these  have  been  Milnor's 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  62^ 

juniors ;  and  all,  or  at  least  all  the  leading  names  upon  the  list, 
have  been  accustomed  to  look  to  him,  not  as  their  party  cham- 
pion, but  as  their  more  experienced  friend  and  counsellor.  He 
was,  by  common  consent,  not  the  most  highly  gifted  man  in  all 
their  ranks — for  in  learning  and  mental  endowments,  some  were 
possibly  his  superiors — ^but,  from  various  causes,  the  most  widely 
known  and  the  most  largely  influential.  He  stood  most  in  the 
eye  of  the  world.  For  thirty  years  he  was  at  the  very  point  of 
convergence  and  radiation  of  all  our  great  influences  and  move- 
ments. He  was  at  the  centre  of  conflict  between  the  evangelical 
and  the  anti-evangelical  portions  of  our  church.  Nay,  for  years 
he  was,  in  his  own  person,  the  one  point  against  which  the  most 
strenuous  assaults  of  the  latter  were  directed ;  and  had  he  fallen, 
many  others  would  have  been  unable  to  stand.  From  sympa- 
thy, as  well  as  from  respect  and  veneration,  there  was  a  rallying 
around  him,  as  a  sort  of  evangelic  centre.  He  touched  a  greater 
number  than  others  could  touch,  of  religious  and  theological 
minds  in  their  forming  state.  He  touched  more  of  the  causes 
which,  under  Grod,  generate  evangelical  results.  In  a  word, 
through  the  early  training  of  his  mind,  the  practical  character  of 
his  pursuits,  the  finished  amenity  of  his  manners,  the  peculiar 
post  of  labor  assigned  him,  and  above  all,  the  eminently  intelli- 
gent and  elevated  character  of  his  piety,  the  providence  of  God 
gave  him  a  position  which,  during  his  life,  was,  on  the  whole, 
more  commanding  than  that  of  any  other  evangelical  clergyman 
of  our  church.  A  bishopric  might  have  added  to  him  somewhat  of 
official  weight,  but  it  would  not  have  enlarged,  perhaps  it  would, 
in  some  respects,  have  lessened,  the  sphere  of  his  influence. 

Under  this  last  remark,  there  happens  to  lie  before  the  writer 
an  apposite  illustration.  One  of  the  most  highly  respected  of  our 
bishops,  having  spent  some  days  with  Dr.  Milnor,  and  observing 
how  often  his  counsel  was  sought,  and  how  active  was  the  agency 
which  he  exerted,  in  furthering  the  various  efforts  for  the  spread 
of  the  Gospel,  and  for  the  good  of  men,  just  as  the  secretary  of 
one  of  the  benevolent  societies  had  left  his  door,  pleasantly  ob- 
served, "  I  see  how  it  is.  Dr.  Milnor ;  you  have  all  the  responsi- 
bilities and  duties  of  the  office  of  a  bishop,  but  without  its  crown 
of  thorns." 


628  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

He  lived  to  witness  great  changes,  and  to  contribute  to  a 
wonderful  progress  in  the  spiritual  life  of  our  church.  Some  of 
his  letters  show,  that  there  were  times  when  he  was  filled  with 
the  most  gladdening  hopes,  that  the  evangelical  spirit  would 
speedily  penetrate  and  enliven  every  part  of  our  Episcopal  con- 
federation. Long  before  he  left  the  stage  of  life,  the  terms  evan- 
gelical and  anti-evangelical  had  ceased  to  be  exactly  synonymous 
with  low  church  and  high  church.  The  lines  which  divide  the 
former,  were  found  not  to  be  the  same  with  those  which  separate 
the  latter.  He  saw  no  reason,  therefore,  why  evangelical  doc- 
trine and  piety  should  not  become  universal  among  us,  however 
differences  about  church-theory  im^t  continue  to  perpetuate 
themselves.  He  loved  to  contemplate  that  doctrine  and  piety  in 
the  character  of  a  sacred  leaven,  which,  having  by  the  hand  of 
the  Spirit  been  '■'■hid''^  in  the  midst  of  us,  would  silently,  yet 
speedily,  "leaven  the  whole  lump."  He  saw,  indeed,  that  in 
several  instances  it  became  mixed  with  some  measure  of  human 
elements,  and  was  diverted  from  its  silent  working  and  leavening 
of  the  mass,  and  placed  in  the  attitude  of  a  competitor  for  the 
honors  and  the  influence  of  office  and  authority.  But,  as  his 
letters  at  such  times  indicate,  he  saw  this  with  grief,  and  felt 
that  the  evangelical  spirit  had  left  its  true  vocation,  and  was  in 
peril  of  losing  its  true  end.  As  to  the  doctrine  and  piety  which 
were  the  life  of  his  soul,  he  felt,  that  as  they  came  from  Christ, 
so  their  true  place  was  that  which  Christ  himself  assumed,  to  be 
among  the  disciples  "as  he  that  serveth,''^  and  to  leave  it  for 
others  to  "strive  among  themselves  which  of  them  should  be 
accounted  the  greatest."  This  feeling  governed  him  through 
life.  Though  he  seldom,  if  ever,  refused  a  post  which  called  him 
to  labor,  yet,  it  is  believed,  he  never  sought  an  office  for  the  sake 
of  honor,  or  even  of  increased  usefulness.  He  saw  that  useful- 
ness does  not  depend  on  office,  but  upon  a  God-given  heart  and 
will,  and  power  to  live,  and  act,  and  suffer  for  Christ.  To  this 
great  end,  therefore,  he  desired  to  see  the  evangelical  spirit  in 
our  church  wholly  consecrated :  if  God,  in  his  providence,  thrust 
it  into  office,  not  to  refuse  to  serve  him  even  there ;  but  like 
Christ,  to  make  this  its  one  great  aim,  to  minister,  and  not  to  be 
ministered  unto ;  to  serve,  and  not  to  be  served.     He  knew  that 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  639 

neither  offices  nor  officers  can  make  a  church  living  and  holy ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  a  church  made  living  and  holy  by  the 
Spirit  of  God,  sought  in  prayer  and  by  the  word,  will  be  least 
likely  to  fill  its  offices  with  spiritually  dead  and  unholy  men. 

It  is  needless  to  say,  that  when  the  movement  from  Oxford 
began  to  reach  this  country  and  to  affect  powerfully  the  mind  of 
our  church.  Dr.  Milnor  first  saw  reason  to  apprehend  the  disap- 
pointment of  his  hopies  as  to  the  pervading  spread  of  the  evangel- 
ical spirit  through  every  part  of  our  communion.  His  intelligent 
and  discriminating  piety  saw  too  clearly  the  utter  antagonism  of 
the  evangelical  and  the  Tractarian  theologies,  and  of  their  respec- 
tive tendencies,  to  hope  that,  in  a  church  which  so  eagerly  and 
so  extensively  embraced  the  latter,  the  former  could  continue  to 
spread  towards  a  universal  prevalence.  Nay,  he  seemed  at  times 
oppressed  with  heavy  forebodings,  lest  the  long  coexistence  of  the 
two  should  be  found  impracticable ;  lest  the  evangelical  spirit 
should  bo  doomed,  amid  the  temporarily  dark  ways  of  Heaven, 
either  to  die  on  its  own  field,  or  to  flee  away  where  it  could  live 
and  labor  without  mixture  and  without  conflict. 

The  foregoing  remarks,  it  is  believed,  exhibit  with  sufficient 
distinctness  Dr.  Milnor 's  position  in  our  church.  He  belongs 
strictly  to  its  evangelical  history.  He  was  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent, luminous,  and  unchanging  embodiments  of  its  evangelical 
spirit.  His  was  always  one  light,  shining  from  one  place,  and 
shining  fairer  and  farther  than  any  of  its  contemporaries.  It  may 
be  succeeded  by  other  lights  as  clear  and  as  far  diffused;  but 
while  ho  lived,  there  was  probably  no  other  among  us,  upon 
which  so  many  eyes  were  turned,  which  was  so  nearly  central 
in  our  evangelic  firmament. 

Before  finally  dismissing  this  topic,  however,  it  will  be  proper 
to  remark,  that  in  one  respect,  Dr.  Milnor  held  a  different,  or 
rather  an  additional  position  in  our  church.  In  the  general 
counsels  of  our  body,  those  which  find  their  expression  through 
our  triennial  convention,  the  value  of  his  services  was  in  some 
measure  appreciated.  As  we  have  already  seen,  he  was  to  the 
last  one  of  the  trustees  of  our  General  Theological  Seminary, 
and  in  that  body  labored  as  unceasingly,  and  we  hesitate  not  to 
add,  as  beneficently  as  any  other  of  its  members.     In  our  general 


630  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR;      , 

Board  of  Missions,  likewise,  both  undei?  its  earlier  and  under  its 
later  constitution,  his  labors  were  of  the  highest  value ;  not  only 
as  secretary  and  general  agent,  but  also  as  a  more  permanently 
working  member  of  its  Foreign  Executive  Committee.  But,  in 
the  counsels  of  the  particular  diocese  to  which  he  belonged,  those 
which  find  expression  through  our  annual  New  York  convention, 
he  held  virtually  no  position.  It  will  doubtless  by  many  be  re- 
garded as  a  lasting  reproach  to  that  body,  that,  influenced  appar- 
ently by  a  fear  of  giving  him  influence,  it  studiously  "kept  such 
a  man,"  to  use  the  language  of  one  of  his  correspondents,  "  out 
of  those  chief  places,  where  prudence,  and  wisdom,  and  business 
habits  were  wanted,  and  only  put  him  where  he  would  seem  to 
be  honored,  but  where  he  had  no  chance  of  being  feltP  To  all 
this,  indeed,  he  found  no  difficulty  in  submitting.  Place  was  not 
peculiarly  the  object  of  his  ambition.  Besides,  he  knew  that  he 
was  felt,  and  that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  others  to  keep  him 
in  the  dark,  or  under  bonds.  Still,  theirs  was  an  unwise  policy. 
It  deprived  the  diocese  of  some  useful  service.  And,  so  far  as  it 
was  intended  as  a  censure  upon  his  course  in  the  Bible  and  Tract 
Societies,  and  in  his  lecture-room  and  prayer  meetings,  it  was 
weaker  than  mere  hrutum  fulmen ;  or  rather,  it  defeated  itself: 
it  probably  gave  him  more  sympathy  and  companionship  in  that 
course  than  he  would  have  otherwise  enjoyed.  Upon  himself,  it 
was  simply  powerless.  Conscious  of  a  sincere  and  warm  attach- 
ment to  the  Church  in  which  he  was  a  minister — an  attachment 
based,  not  on  inere  sympathy,  but  on  firm  principle — he  yet  dis- 
cerned the  compatibility  of  this  attachment,  and  of  his  proper 
obligations  as  an  Episcopalian,  with  that  sentiment  of  enlarged 
Christian  affection  and  brotherhood  which  he  cherished,  and  with 
that  course  of  cooperation  which  he  adopted,  in  whatever  involved 
the  common  interests  only  of  our  common  Christianity.  And, 
believing  such  cooperation  to  be  not  merely  consistent  with  prin- 
ciple, but  also  important  to  the  best  interests  of  religion,  he  could 
well  afford  to  meet,  with  undisturbed  serenity,  all  the  opposition 
which  he  encountered,  whether  from  honest  prejudice  or  from 
illiberal  hostility. 

,  As  to  his  course  in  the  lecture-room  and  prayer-meeting,  he 
felt  that  that  was  his  own  concern;  and, with  it,  therefore,  he 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  631 

allowed  no  man  to  interfere,  except,  as  he  remarks  in  one  of  his 
letters,  in  the  way  of  friendly  advice.  The  manner  in  which  he 
met  opposition  on  this  ground,  may  be  illustrated  by  the  following 
incidents;  the  former  resting  for  its  truth  on  the  "Recollections" 
of  his  son,  and  the  latter  certified  by  a  clerical  friend,  who  had 
it  from  his  own  lips. 

His  Friday-evening  lecture,  preceded  always  by  the  shorter 
service  from  our  liturgy,  and  concluded  by  extemporaneous 
prayer,  was  at  first,  says  the  "Recollections,"  "a  source  of  much 
difficulty.  The  Bishop  made  strong  objections  to  it,  calling  it  an 
irregular  meeting,  and  using  every  effort  to  effect  its  discontinu- 
ance. But  Dr.  Milnor  was  unmoved.  He  had  not  adopted  his 
course  without  prayerful  consideration.  He  felt  that  he  was  in 
the  path  of  duty,  and  nothing  could  make  him  swerve  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left."  He  finally  ended  the  matter,  after  sufficient 
listening  to  objections,  by  telling  the  bishop,  in  that  kind,  but 
peculiarly  firm  and  decided  manner  which  he  was  capable  of 
assuming,  that  "  his  only  proper  and  effectual  course  would  be 
that  prescribed  by  the  canons  in  case  of  their  violation  by  a  pres- 
byter, specific  charges  and  a  trial;  that  his  duty  as  bishop  was 
plain ;  and  that,  as  the  presbyter  whom  the  charges  vk^ould  affect, 
he  was  ready  to  meet  them  on  their  trial."  But,  as  no  violation 
of  the  canons  had  taken  place,  no  charges  could  be  preferred ;  the 
matter  therefore  was  dropped,  and  Dr.  Milnor  thenceforward  pur- 
sued this  part  of  his  course  without  further  open  molestation. 

At  the  prayer-meetings  in  his  parish,  he  was  not  always,  nor 
even  generally  present.  But  he  countenanced  them,  and  was 
occasionally  in  attendance.  One  evening,  while  the  prayer- 
meeting  was  in  session,  the  bishop  came  to  his  house;  and  after 
the  usual  statement  of  objections,  desired  Dr.  Milnor  to  go  and 
dismiss  the  assembly.  The  answer  which  he  returned  was,  in 
substance,  this :  "  Bishop,  I  dare  not  prevent  my  parishioners  from 
meeting  for  prayer ;  but  if  you  are  willing  to  take  the  responsi- 
bility of  dismissing  them,  you  have  my  permission."  Of  course, 
the  praying  members  of  St.  George's  remained  undisturbed. 

Such,  then,  on  the  whole,  was  Dr.  Milnor's  position  in  the 
Episcopal  church  :  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  all  her  evangel- 
ical clergy,  yet  in  nothing  wanting  as  one  of  her  most  loyal 


632  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

sons ;  less  active  than  he  ought  to  have  been  made  in  her  public 
counsels,  but  probably  not  more  active  in  the  cause  of  general 
benevolence  than  he  would  have  been,  had  his  services  in  our 
church  been  ever  so  encouragingly  invited. 

V.    TRAITS    OF    CHARACTER,    WITH    ILLUSTRATIVE    ANECDOTES    AND 

VIEWS. 

Let  a  few  notices  under  this  head  close  the  Memoirs,  in 
which  we  have  so  long  been  engaged.  They  may  not  amount  to 
an  adequate  analysis  of  the  character  of  Dr.  Milnor ;  certainly 
they  do  not  contain  all  that  fond  affection  would  say  of  him; 
but  they  are,  it  is  believed,  on  the  points  which  they  involve,  a 
truthful  picture  of  what  he  was. 

Intellectually,  then,  the  subject  of  this  notice  was  distin- 
guished for  great  quickness  of  perception,  and  activity  of  mind  ; 
for  uncommon  correctness  of  judgment,  and  as  uncommon  firm- 
ness of  purpose.  He  took  at  a  glance  a  clear  view  of  every 
subject  presented  to  his  examination,  and  rarely  found  it  neces- 
sary to  change  the  opinion  first  formed ;  although,  when  con- 
vinced of  mistake  or  error,  no  man  more  cheerfully  or  more 
gracefully  acknowledged  it  than  himself.  Bishop  Hobart  once 
remarked,  "  I  had  rather  deal  with  Dr.  Milnor  than  with  some 
who  in  church  views  agree  with  me,  because  I  always  know 
where  to  find  him."  His  mind  was  eminently  practical.  For 
imagination,  considered  as  ofie  of  the  loftier  attributes  of  genius, 
he  was  not  particularly  distinguished ;  though  in  a  certain  quick 
and  agreeable  humor  he  was  very  happy.  He  had  a  relish  for 
true  poetry  and  the  higher  classes  of  literature,  yet  he  had  noth- 
ing like  a  passion  for  either  poetry  or  music,  or,  indeed,  any  of 
the  sister  arts.  He  greatly  enjoyed  their  beauties,  but  made  no 
pretensions  to  the  genius  which  produces  them.  He  was  a  rapid 
and  very  correct  writer.  His  sermons  are  remarkably  free  from 
erasures  and  corrections ;  and  he  had  a  talent  which  made  him 
always  a  ready  and  most  agreeable  correspondent. 

Theologically  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  characterize  him. 
His  doctrines  were  determined  by  the  standing  point  which  he 
finally  assumed,  and  from  which,  for  thirty  years,  he  looked  upon 
the  Christian  scheme.    Originally  a  stout  anti-Calvinist,  grace  at 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  633 

length  made  him  neither  a  disciple  nor  an  opponent  of  the  Ge- 
nevan doctor,  but  emphatically  a  disciple  of  Christ.  The  point 
to  which  he  was  thus  brought,  formed  and  fixed  his  whole  char- 
acter, both  as  a  Christian  and  as  a  churchman ;  and  it  is  upon 
this  point  alone  that  any  thing  further  need  be  said  as  illustra- 
tive of  the  theology  which  he  cultivated. 

His  theology,  then,  was  not  speculative,  but  practical.  It 
was  a  light  which  he  received,  and  which  he  made  to  shine.  It 
was  not  a  cold,  but  a  warm  light ;  and  therefore  diffusive.  He 
was  not  spiritually  born  amid  the  dimness  of  superstition ;  he 
did  not  theologically  live  amid  the  depths  of  abstraction.  If  the 
illustration  may  be  allowed,  his  soul  was,  in  an  eminent  sense, 
born  of  the  Sun ;  amid  the  light  that  shineth  most  immediately 
from  Christ.  His  new  birth  was  indeed  the  work  of  the  Spirit ; 
but  it  was  wrought  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  amid  diviner  teachings 
than  fall  from  human  lips,  and  under  a  higher  sacrament  than  is 
administered  by  human  hands ;  amid  the  teachings  of  God's  per- 
fect word,  and  under  the  mystery  of  His  mighty  love  in  Christ. 
This,  doubtless,  was  the  secret  of  all  the  subsequent  "  burning" 
of  his  light.  It  was  a  light  fed  daily  and  directly  from  the  Sun. 
He  lived  habitually  with  his  Saviour,  and  was  surrounded  con- 
tinually by  the  intense  shining  of  those  glorious  truths  which 
meet  and  mingle  most  closely  in  the  halo  round  the  Saviour's 
head,  and  burn  and  beam  forth  most  immediately  from  the  mys- 
teries of  the  Saviour's  work.  He  did  not  undervalue  those  exter- 
nal and  formal  arrangements  which  Christ  left  on  earth  for  the 
conservation,  the  purity,  and  the  spread  of  his  worship  and  his 
truth.  On  the  contrary,  he  ardently  loved  the  Church  and  her 
order,  and  was  ever  ready  for  such  services  as  he  could  render, 
and  for  such  sacrifices  as  he  could  make,  either  for  her  welfare, 
or  in  her  defence.  But  as  these  things  of  the  Church  were  not 
the  original  fountains  whence  he  drew  his  light,  so  they  never 
afterwards  became  more  than  the  divinely  contrived  and  beauti- 
fully arranged  glasses,  through  which  that  light  came  tempered 
to  his  vision. 

The  order  in  which  he  viewed  the  parts  of  the  great  Chris- 
tian system,  seems  to  have  been  not  only  peculiarly  scriptural, 
but  also  essentially  important  in  accounting  for  the  strong  and 


634  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

steady  burning  of  his  light.  In  looking  at  this  system,  his  point 
of  view  was  not  from  the  earth.  His  soul  was  not  down  here, 
enveloped  in  the  visibilities  of  service,  and  looking  up  through  a 
dim  or  a  gorgeous  cloud  of  architecture  and  shadows,  intercessors 
and  semi-propitiators  in  the  Church,  till  finally  it  caught  a  dis- 
tant glimpse  of  a  diminished  and  almost  hidden  Saviour — a  little 
babe,  half  folded  in  the  ample  robes  of  a  resplendent  and  queenly 
mother ;  but  his  soul  was  up  there,  with  the  Saviour  himself — 
with  the  Saviour,  clearly  and  fully  revealed — ^with  the  Saviour, 
shining  in  the  unobscured  greatness  and  effulgence  of  his  own 
unshared  glory  on  the  adoring  mind  of  his  servant — with  the 
Saviour,  looking  down  on  the  Church  and  all  her  decent  offices 
and  order,  as  a  great  body  of  instruments  to  be  used  in  the  con- 
version of  a  lost  world  to  God. 

Or,  to  give  a  difForent  expression  to  the  idea,  this  w^as  the 
order  of  his  view  in  looking  at  the  Christian  system  :  Christ  first, 
"  the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image  of 
his  person ;"  then  his  Cross  and  its  work  of  sacrifice  for  sin;  then 
"justification  by  his  blood,"  "the  righteousness  of  God  by  faith 
of  Jesus  Christ ;"  next,  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  receiving  these 
things  of  Christ,  and  showing  them  unto  men  to  glorify  him ; 
next,  the  deep,  dark  sinfulness  of  man,  as  rendering  that  won- 
drous work  of  Christ  and  that  glorifying  work  of  the  Spirit 
necessary  to  our  renewal,  sanctification,  and  eternal  life ;  next, 
the  "lively  oracles"  of  God,  the  word  of  inspiration,  revealing 
the  whole  body  of  divine  truth,  and  speaking  with  the  only  in- 
fallible authority  beneath  the  sun ;  and  finally,  as  making  up 
the  externals  of  this  dispensation  of  mercy,  the  Church,  with  its 
ministry  of  the  word,  its  worship,  and  its  ordinances — the  Church, 
a  witness  divinely  appointed  to  keep  those  "  lively  oracles  "  pure, 
and  to  attest  their  origin  from  God — the  Church,  a  great  golden 
candlestick,  to  bear  up  and  send  forth  light  for  the  world — the 
Church,  a  trumpet  from  the  Lord,  to  blow  the  enlivening  sound 
of  his  salvation  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  This  was  the  order  in 
which  he  viewed  the  connected  parts  of  the  grand  Christian  sys- 
tem :  Christ  first,  its  sun  and  centre ;  then  all  those  truths  that 
lie  closest  round  him  and  are  in  a  manner  his  outgoing  life  and 
power ;  and  finally,  those  outward  defences  and  helps  of  the 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  635 

Church  which  God  hath  set  for  carrying  on  his  saving  work 
among  men.  Hence,  we  see  what  it  was  that  kept  his  light  so 
steadily  and  so  brightly  '•'•hurningP  Originally  lit  from  the  Sun, 
that  light  was  ever  after  fed  from  the  Sun.  He  kept  his  light 
close  by  Christ ;  among  the  luminous  truths  which  lie  nearest 
Christ. 

And  are  not  all  those  truths  which  have  been  named,  most 
divinely  luminous  ?  Or  if  one  alone  in  the  circle,  the  sinfulness 
of  man,  seem  a  dark  and  gloomy  radiance  from  the  shadow  of 
death,  yet  doth  not  even  this,  if  not  itself  luminous,  reflect  up- 
wards the  light  of  all  the  rest  ?  Doth  it  not  urge,  yea,  hurry 
the  repenting  sinner  upwards,  till,  in  the  actings  of  his  lively 
faith,  his  once-defiled  soul  is  bathed  in  the  clean  light  of  life  and 
truth,  as  it  shines  around  the  Son  of  God  ?  Accordingly,  does 
not  this  account  for  the  fact,  that  even  when  Dr.  Milnor  dwelt  on 
the  sad  ruin  of  the  fall,  and  meditated  on  his  own  sinfulness  in 
the  sight  of  God,  the  exercise  brought  no  stain  of  darkness,  and 
oast  no  shade  of  gloom  upon  his  spirit ;  that  it  did  but  raise  him 
the  nearer  to  his  Saviour,  and  cover  him  more  beauteously  with 
the  light  of  those  other  shining  truths  which  lie  around  the  Cross, 
and  stream  forth  from  Him  who  was  "  lifted  up"  to  be  "  the  light 
of  the  world?" 

Yes,  we  see  here  the  true  secret  of  what  we  are  now  study- 
ing in  the  character  of  this  man  of  God.  He  lived  habitually 
with  Christ,  and  among  the  truths  which  shine  forth  of  his 
unconcealable  Godhead,  and  of  his  gloriously  redeeming  work. 
This  it  was  which  made  his  own  light  "  burn^^  so  steadily  and  gfo 
strongly.  He  could  not  be  other  than  "  a  burning  light,"  when 
he  lived  in  the  midst  of  such  burning  brightness,  and  shone  down 
upon  the  world  from  such  a  watch-tower  of  living  light.  It  is 
only  when  the  Christian  minister  wanders  away  from  Christ,  and 
from  the  central  truths  which  burn  around  him  ;  only  when  he 
gets  lost  or  bewildered  among  the  mazes  of  the  many  lesser  or 
subordinate  truths,  opinions,  and  externals,  which  lie  more  or 
less  in  the  distance :  only  then  that  his  light  burns  dim,  or  shines 
into  darkness,  or  goes  altogether  out.  Let  his  "  life  be  ever  hid 
with  Christ  in  God,"  and  his  light  shall  ever  shine  beyond  the 
power  of  being  hid. 


636  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

The  theological  system,  then,  indicated  by  the  standing  point 
from  which  Dr.  Milnor  looked  on  Christianity,  though  it  may,  in 
the  judgment  of  some,  mark  him  as  a  low-churchman,  yet  ex- 
hibits him  to  the  eye  of  all  as  a  high-christian  ;  it  may  not  iden- 
tify his  creed  with  Calvinism,  but  it  does  distinguish  his  doc- 
trines from  Tractarianism.  Perhaps  his  best  description,  so  far 
as  this  particular  is  concerned,  may  be  thus  given :  he  was  emi- 
nently a  Christluv  theologist  ;  sufficiently  well  read  in  books, 
but  still  more  deeply  taught  by  the  Spirit,  and  therefore  be- 
longing less  to  any  human  school  of  divinity  than  to  the  one  great 
body  of  Christ's  true  disciples :  more  and  more  an  evangelical 
divine  ;  less  and  less  a  doctrinal  disputant :  an  Episcopalian  by 
conscientious  preference,  but  in  his  highest  birthright  and  aspi- 
rations^ a  member  of  "the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the 
first-born."  . 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  as  bold  in  opposing  error  as  he  was 
zealous  in  defending  truth.  Yet  he  was  always  more  ready  to 
win  the  wandering  to  the  path  of  holiness  by  kind  invitings  and 
gentle  expostulation,  than  to  terrify  him  by  fierce  threatenings 
and  harsh  upbraiding.  Perhaps  to  an  uncommon  degree,  his 
style  of  preaching  was  conciliatory.  Though  he  failed  not  to 
exhibit  the  terrors  of  the  law,  yet  above  them  he  always  displayed 
the  love  of  the  Gospel.  He  was  ever  careful  that  the  Saviour 
should  appear  in  his  teaching,  as  the  winning  Messenger  of 
peace  ;  one  to  whom  the  weary  and  heavy  laden  might  come  and 
find  rest.  The  power  of  his  ministry  lay  in  the  word  love.  As 
a  preacher,  he  was  impressive  rather  than  strictly  eloquent.  His 
enunciation  was  remarkably  distinct ;  and  his  manner,  without 
being  violent,  was  earnest.  You  listened,  and  became  convinced 
that  the  speaker  felt,  in  the  recesses  of  his  own  heart,  all  that 
he  uttered;  and  that  his  love  for  his  flock  was  deep  and  over- 
flowing. 

Such  being  the  grand  theme  and  the  prevailing  spirit  of  his 
ministry — Christ's  truth  spoken  in  love — it  is  but  reasonable  to 
infer  that  his  labors  were  largely  successful.  The  inference  is 
sustained  by  facts.  Many  "  times  of  refreshing  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord"  passed  over  his  congregation,  and  dropped 
upon  them  regenerating  dews  from  the  overshadowing  Spirit ;  and 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS   LIFE.  637 

silent  blessings  were  generally  found  waiting  on  his  steps.  From 
his  densely  populous,  and  latterly,  changing  parish,  multitudes 
have  gone  forth,  through  the  city  and  through  the  country,  bear- 
ing the  impress  of  his  doctrine  and  of  the  mind  of  Christ  which 
was  in  him,  to  be  church-members,  and  church-officers,  and 
preachers  of  Christ — some  of  them  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
Even  his  occasional  labors,  as  he  journeyed  round  the  land,  were 
often  richly  blessed.  How  many — like  the  Rev.  Richardson  Gra- 
ham, late  one  of  our  missionaries  to  China,  who  refers  his  con- 
version to  a  sermon  on  James  5:9,  "  Behold,  the  Judge  standeth 
before  the  door,"  which  he  incidentally  heard  Dr.  Milnor  preach 
at  St.  Paul's,  on  one  of  his  visits  to  Philadelphia — have  been  the 
fruits  of  his  seed-sowing  as  he  passed  from  place  to  place,  the 
great  day  only  can  reveal. 

So,  in  truth,  may  we  say  of  his  whole  ministerial  life.  Dr. 
Cutler,  in  a  sermon  delivered  soon  after  the  death  of  his  old 
friend,  on  the  text,  1  Cor.  4 :  15,  "  Though  ye  have  ten  thousand 
instructors  in  Christ,  yet  have  ye  not  many  fathers,^^  uses  the 
following  truthful  language  :  "  To  multitudes,  he  was  a  father  in 
a  higher  sense  than  any  of  which  we  have  yet  spoken.  He  it 
was  by  whom  their  eyes  were  first  opened  to  see  their  perishing 
condition  by  nature,  and  their  only  hope  of  salvation  in  Christ. 
God  made  him  a  father  unto  them  by  a  tie  more  lasting  than  any 
which  earth  can  originate.  0  how  many  such  will  rise  up  in 
the  day  of  God,  and  call  him  blessed!  His  paternal  anxieties 
and  patient  labors  will  be  amply  rewarded  when,  with  a  multi- 
tude of  sons  and  daughters,  he  shall  say  before  God,  '  Here  am 
I,  and  the  children  whom  thou  hast  given  me.'  Like  the  blessed 
Master,  he  even  now  'sees  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  is  satis- 
fied.' And  when  God  shall  have  answered  all  the  prayers  which 
he  put  up,  and  brought  forward  into  fruit  all  the  seed  which  he 
sowed,  then  both  he  that  hath  sowed,  and  he  that  shall  hereafter 
reap,  will  abundantly  rejoice  together." 

In  domestic  life — ^the  bosom  of  his  own  family — ^the  beauties 
of  his  character  shone  with  peculiar  lustre. 

Liberal  in  his  household  arrangements,  he  nevertheless  dis- 
couraged extravagance  and  disallowed  waste.  His  domestics 
loved  him,  and  looked  up  to  him  as  a  friend.     He  was  very  regu- 


638  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

lar  in  his  habits.  An  early  riser  from  youth,  he  preferred  the 
morning  hours  for  study,  and  always  accomplished  much  before 
breakfast.  In  domestic  worship  he  took  peculiar  delight,  and 
was  peculiarly  happy.  He  was  strict  in  requiring  all  the  mem- 
bers of  his  household  to  be  present,  and  nothing  pained  him  more 
than  the  unnecessary  absence  of  any.  The  most  tender  and  de- 
voted of  husbands,  the  kindest  and  most  indulgent  of  fathers, 
he  was  ever  seeking  the  happiness,  temporal  and  eternal,  of  those 
whom  he  loved.  He  never  used  harshness  in  reproving  an  erring 
child,  yet  he  never  overlooked  a  fault,  nor  failed  firmly  to  reprove 
the  offender.  His  son,  in  his  "Recollections,"  has  an  anecdote 
which  illustrates  his  character  in  this  particular. 

"  I  recollect,"  says  he,  "  when  in  college,  during  an  absence  of 
my  father  from  home,  I  engaged  in  what  was  called,  among  the 
students,  a  'standing  out'  for  the  maintenance  of  rights,  which, 
as  we  thought,  had  been  invaded.  On  his  return,  he  was  of 
course  made  acquainted  with  the  case.  He  reproved  me  for  my 
course,  but  did  not  wish  me  to  compromise  my  honor  by  turning 
traitor  to  my  companions.  I  remember  well  that  his  kind  but 
firm  manner  had  the  intended  effect — an  effect  which  severity  or 
harshness  might  have  failed  to  produce." 

He  was  very  regular  at  meals,  and  very  temperate.  For  a 
large  portion  of  his  life,  he  had  been  in  the  habit — such  was  the 
custom  of  the  times — of  taking  an  occasional  glass  of  wine  at 
dinner.  But  many  years  before  his  death,  the  habit  was  discon- 
tinued. His  medical  advisers  opposed  the  change,  from  an  appre- 
hension that  it  might  prove  injurious  to  his  peculiar  constitution 
under  advancing  years ;  but  he  was  firm,  and  afterwards  used 
stimulants  only  when  prescribed  as  medicine.  He  remained  a 
warm,  though  never  an  indiscreet  friend  of  the  Temperance  cause. 
;  As  he  was  an  early  riser,  so  he  retired  early  to  rest,  never, 
save  when  necessity  obliged  him,  consuming  the  midnight  oil. 
As  for  himself,  so  to  all  about  him,  he  successfully  endeavored  to 
make  his  dwelling  the  home  of  wise  moderation,  cheerful  content, 
holy  peace,  and  Christian  hospitality.  His  house  was  always 
open  to  his  brethren,  and  the  prophet's  chamber  on  the  wall  ever 
ready  for  a  guest.  One  of  his  clerical  friends,  the  Rev.  E.  W. 
Peet,  long  in  habits  of  familiar  and  frequent  intercourse  with 


RETROSPECT  OP  HIS  LIFE.  639 

him,  in  a  discourse  preached  the  Sunday  after  his  death,  thus 
embodies  his  impressions  of  Dr.  Milnor's  domestic  life,  with  a 
special  view  to  illustrate  its  social  and  hospitable  character. 

"  Who  that  was  accustomed  to  step  over  the  threshold  of  the 
blessed  rectory  of  St.  George's,  was  not  at  once  conscious  of  be- 
ing under  the  roof  of  a  godly  man,  whose  name  and  character 
were  as  a  sweet  savor  among  the  intelligent,  and  wise,  and  good  ? 
What  forms  and  features  are  well  remembered  there !  What 
zealous  ministers  of  Jesus  gathered  round  his  board !  How  fa- 
miUarly  all  approached  him  as  a  father  and  a  friend  !  The  mis- 
sionary of  the  far  West,  the  diligent  country  rector,  the  student 
of  theology,  the  man  of  benevolent  enterprise,  the  young  man 
just  entering  on  the  trials  of  city  life,  all  found  there  a  welcome. 
And  there,  too,  gathered  good  men  of  every  name  and  denomina- 
tion. There  was  no  need,  in  his  case,  of  a  mitre  or  a  crozier. 
An  episcopate  would  have  added  nothing  to  the  savor  of  his  char- 
acter, or  the  sacredness  of  his  influence.  There  is  no  bishop  in 
all  our  wide-extended  country  who  might  not  well  have  deemed 
himself  peculiarly  favored  in  the  cheerful,  voluntary,  irrepressible 
love  and  attachment  which  Dr.  Milnor  excited  and  secured  in 
the  hearts  of  such  multitudes  of  good  and  intelligent  men.  This 
homage  no  official  station  can  ever  purchase.  Such  station  may 
secure  an  outward  exhibition  of  respect,  but  the  hearts  of  men 
are  beyond  its  reach." 

It  is  important,  in  estimating  Dr.  Milnor's  character,  to  note 
more  specially  the  sweet  cheerfulness  of  temper  which  his  relig- 
ion favored  and  produced.  The  impression  that  such  strict  views 
as  he  was  known  to  take  must  make  men  gloomy^  is  one  of  those 
subtle  and  lurking  errors  of  a  falsely  reasoning  world  which 
ought  to  be  met  at  every  step,  and  exposed  in  all  its  falseness. 
Of  this  error,  Dr.  Milnor  was  a  living  refutation.  His  religion, 
instead  of  destroying,  heightened  and  perfected  his  natural 
cheerfulness  of  disposition.  Many  who  for  a  time  knew  him 
only  by  the  public  estimate  of  his  views,  were  astonished,  upon 
subsequent  personal  acquaintance,  to  find  in  him  nothing  of  the 
gloom  and  austerity  which  they  expected,  and  with  which  their 
inferences  from  his  self-humbling  doctrines  had  invested  him. 
Indeed,  he  abounded  in  cheerfulness  and  even  in  humor,  though 


640  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

his  cheerfulness  was  always  becoming,  and  his  humor  ever  deli- 
cate and  chaste.  In  its  indulgence  he  never  forgot  who  he  was, 
and  whom  he  professed  to  serve.  His  peculiarities  in  this  respect, 
made  him  a  truly  delightful  friend.  Says  Bishop  Kemper,  in  a 
letter  to  Dr.  William  H.  Milnor,  written  after  the  father's  death, 
"  He  was,  in  every,  respect,  a  charming  companion,  abounding  in 
anecdotes,  which  he  told  exceedingly  well,  and  often  with  much 
humor.  You  doubtless  remember  many  of  his  admirable  stories 
about  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colin,  the  old  rector  of  the  Swedish  churches 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Rev.  William  Ayres,  an  ancient  clergy- 
man of  New  Jersey,  who  resided  two  or  three  years  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania hospital  with  his  daughter,  while  she  was  nurse  in  that 
institution.  I  have  known  Bishop  White,  when  we  have  been 
dining  with  him,  turn  to  your  father,  and  ask  him  to  relate  some 
interesting  event,  knowing  that  the  company  would  be  delighted 
with  the  narrative  from  his  manner  of  telling  it." 

"His  flow  of  spirits,  and  his  fand  of  anecdote,"  says  his  son 
in  the  "  Recollections,"  "  made  him  truly  agreeable  in  society. 
He  always  retained  the  easy  but  dignified  deportment  which  early 
mingling  in  the  society  of  the  world  had  made  familiar  to  him. 
The  Christian  gentleman  shone  in  every  word  and  action.  I 
have  before  me  memory's  daguerreotype  of  his  beaming  face  and 
laughing  eye,  when  enjoying  some  fine  sally  of  wit ;  and  of  his 
earnest  countenance,  when  discussing  some  favorite  topic.  In 
argument  he  never  lost  his  temper.  Though  he  expressed  him- 
self with  animation,  and  sometimes  with  warmth,  yet  he  never 
lost  sight  of  the  respect  due  to  his  opponent.  His  naturally 
hasty  temper  was  subjected  to  a  gracious  and  complete  control. 
He  would  meekly  bear  reproach  for  a  season,  rather  than  harshly 
resent  an  injury." 

The  benevolence  di\^o  of  his  character  should  receive  its  meed. 
It  was,  indeed,  his  crowning  grace.  Drawn  to  his  Saviour  by 
LOVE,  instead  of  being  driven  by  terror,  love  was  the  life  of  his 
religion ;  and  his  religion  was,  in  a  high  sense,  but  love  in  activ- 
ity. His  whole  Christian  life  was  enlarged  philanthropy — sanc- 
tified benevolence.  How  much  he  gave  from  his  moderately 
ample  income,  we  have  no  means  of  definitely  ascertaining.  His 
contributions  to  all  good  objects  were  liberal,  and  in  the  aggre- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  641 

gate  large.  His  pledge  towards  the  building  of  a  free  chapel, 
made  near  the  close  of  his  life,  was,  for  one  of  his  means,  munifi- 
cent. But  in  general  we  find  no  record  of  his  gifts.  His  left 
hand  knew  not  what  his  right  hand  was  doing.  This  only  is 
certain,  that,  according  to  his  ability,  he  gave  much.  But  his 
giving,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  money  contributed,  was  not  the 
true  measure  of  his  real  benevolence.  His  life  was  one  great 
expression  of  this  heavenly  spirit.  And  it  will  not  be  forgotten, 
that  his  really  abounding  labors  in  the  Bible  and  Tract  Societies, 
and  in  the  general  agency  of  our  Foreign  Executive  Committee, 
were  all  gratuitous.  So,  in  part,  was  his  visit  to  Europe,  as  their 
first  and  most  laborious  delegate  ;  and  it  would  have  been  wholly 
so,  had  not  the  vestry  of  his  parish  generously  relieved  him  of  a 
portion  of  the  expense.  Much  of  his  benevolence  expressed  itseli 
in  behalf  of  objects  of  which,  ordinarily,  the  wealthy  world  knows 
as  little  as  it  may.     To  quote  again  from  the  "  Recollections :" 

"  His  ear  was  always  open  to  the  tale  of  woe,  and  his  hand 
never  shut  against  the  friendless  and  needy.  And  as  his  private 
resources  were  inadequate  to  all  the  calls  on  his  purse,  he  took 
peculiar  pleasure  in  carefully  cherishing  and  wisely  applying  the 
charity-fund  of  his  parish.  This  consisted  of  the  revenues  of  the 
offertory  at  communion  seasons,  and  amounted  to  a  considerable 
sum  per  annum.  His  regular  pensioners,  the  old,  the  sick,  the 
needy,  and  the  helpless,  received  each  quarter-day  their  allotted 
portions.  If  he  was  obliged  on  that  day  to  be  absent  from  home, 
he  invariably  left  neat  little  parcels  for  them  in  charge  with  sortie 
member  of  his  family.  He  furnished  them  with  wood,  and  coal, 
and  other  necessaries  during  the  inclemencies  of  winter ;  his  own 
purse  supplying  any  deficiency  which  unusual  calls  might  create. 
Bitter  were  the  tears  which  these  poor  old  people  shed,  when  they 
came,  one  by  one,  to  look  for  the  last  time  upon  the  face  of  their 
old  pastor." 

It  was  the  lovely  benevolence  of  Dr.  Milnor's  character  which 
gave  their  most  touching  pathos  to  the  scenes  at  St.  George's  and 
its  rectory,  immediately  after  his  decease  was  announced,  and  on 
the  day  of  his  funeral. 

"  The  moment  this  event  was  known,"  says  Mr.  Peet,  in  his 
discourse,  "the  throng  around  the  well-known  rectory,  the  groups 

Mem.  Milnor.  41 


642  MEMOIR  OP  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  lingering  parishioners,  the  eyes  strained  with  weeping,  the  old 
friends  from  distant  parishes,  whom  the  growth  of  the  great  me- 
tropolis had  separated  from  his  ministry,  proved  the  depth  and 
sincerity  of  the  feeling  which  prevailed,  and  bespoke  the  pres- 
sure of  some  great  calamity.  And  on  the  day  of  the  funeral,  men 
of  all  ranks  and  professions,  and  clergymen  of  various  denomina- 
tions, gathered  around  the  house  of  mourning ;  and  as  his  inani- 
mate remains  were  borne  sadly  and  solemnly  into  the  sanctuary, 
which  for  so  many  years  had  reechoed  to  his  voice,  the  vast  mul- 
titude crowded  every  niche  and  corner,  from  floor  to  roof;  and 
there,  in  the  passages  and  open  vestibules,  closely  and  densely 
thronged,  were  seen  men  of  high  degree,  judges  and  senators, 
and  doctors  of  divinity,  mingled  vnth  the  poor  daughters  oj 
Africa,  whose  tearful  faces,  if  apology  for  their  presence  were 
needed,  told  the  story  of  those  emotions  which  had  brought  them 
thither." 

"  To  some,"  Mr.  Peet  adds,  "  it  may  seem  that  his  death  was 
painfully  sudden.  They  may  feel  surprised,  that  God's  faithful 
ones  should  be  denied  the  privilege  of  testifying,  in  their  last 
hours,  of  the  grace  and  mercy  which  they  have  received.  But 
not  thus  ought  we  to  reason.  The  death  of  the  good  man  is 
never  sudden.  He  dies  daily.  He  converses  often  with  death 
and  the  judgment.  He  has  all  things  in  readiness,  and  he  pre- 
fers that  his  whole  life  should  testify  of  the  grace  and  mercy 
which  his  Saviour  has  bestowed."  This  language  is  appropriate. 
Dr.  Milnor  had  no  dread  of  sudden  death,  and  it  was  his  special 
desire  to  make  his  life  speak  to  the  last.  "  He  had  a  great  dread," 
says  his  son,  "of  being  obliged  to  give  up  duty,  and  earnestly 
desired  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  work  to  the  very  end  of  the 
day.  A  sudden  death  was  to  him  a  visitation  of  mercy."  He 
had  his  wish ;  for  almost  literally, 

"He  ceased,at  once  to  labor  and  to  live." 

[M.It  is  true,  that  when  he  fell  asleep  there  was  no  song  upon 
his  lips.  But,  twenty  years  before,  those  who  were  near  him, 
heard  him  sing  in  the  very  spirit  of  the  great  apostle,  when 
"  ready  to  be  offered."  At  that  time  he  supposed  himself  to  be 
actually  in  the  passage  of  the  straits  of  death  ;  dying,  not  with 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  "  6^13 

the  suddenness  which  finally  snatched  him  ^.way,  but  with  a  dis- 
tinct perception  of  the  gradual  yet  apparently  inevitable  approach 
of  his  end.  That  was  the  hour  of  his  triumph.  Then  he  sung 
the  song  of  the  apostle..  Then  the  grave  opened  before  him  a 
lighted  passage  to  glory.  Can  we  then  suppose,  that  after  so  long 
an  added  course  of  ever.increa;sing  faithfulness  in  labor,  and  of 
ever-increasing  ripeness  in  grace,  the  scene  at  last  proved  a 
dark  one  ?  No.  Had  not  death  chained  his  tongue  in  almost 
instant  silence,  we  cannot  doubt  it  would  again  have  sung  the 
song  of  triumph — would  again  have  spoken  of  the  precious- 
ness  of  Christ — ^would  again  have  testified  to  the  power  of  that 
faith  which  can  make  the  dark  dwelling  of  the  grave  itself  a 
land  of  light.  Had  his  passing  away  been  ordered  according  to 
human  wish,  he  might,  indeed,  have  been  too  humble  to  make 
his  last  song  in  the  precise  words  of  the  apostle  ;  and  yet,  now 
that  he  is  gone,  there  can  be  neither  presumption  nor  impropri- 
ety in  our  putting  those  words  into  his  mouth,  and  conceiving 
the  silence  of  his  death-bed  as  having  been  made  vocal  to  the 
ear  that  "  heareth  in  secret,"  with  this  animating  strain  :  "  I 
have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 
kept  the  faith  :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give 
me  at  that  day ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  to  all  them  also  that 
love  his  appearing."  Nor  can  there  be  any  presumption  or  any 
impropriety  in  believing  that  the  same  silence  in  which  this  was 
heard,  brought  back  to  his  own  inner  ear  the  cheering  re- 
sponse, "  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant ;  enter  thou  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

A  very  few  of  the  many  anecdotes  and  illustrations  of  his 
character  and  habits,  which  might  have  been  collected,  remain 
to  be  added.  They  might  have  been  inserted  in  other  and  more 
appropriate  places,  but  having  escaped  notice  till  now,  they  are 
given  here,  by  way  of  taking  our  last  look  of  the  man. 

HIS  HABITS  OF  SERMON-WRITING  AND  PASTORAL  DUTY. 

He  made  it  a  practice,  says  his  son,  every  Sunday  evening,  to 
select  a  text  for  the  ensuing  Lord's  day  ;  and  on  Monday  morn- 
ing, he  always  commenced  the  writing  of  his  sermon. 


G44  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

A  portion  of  every  fair  day,  generally  the  latter  part,  he 
spent  in  visiting  his  parishioners,  both  sick  and  well.  He  loved 
to  be  among  his  flock ;  and  considered  parochial  visitation  as 
among  a  pastor's  most  important  duties. 

HIS  FAVORITE  ALLEGORY  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

This  was  suggested  by  one  of  the  Saviour's  well-known  par- 
ables. He  loved  to  view  the  Church  of  Christ  as  an  extensive 
vineyard.  Here  and  there  different  classes  of  laborers  are  en- 
gaged in  cultivating  the  same  great  vine  ;  their  different  modes 
of  training  it  being  determined  by  diversities  of  taste,  judg- 
ment, and  skill.  The  roots  strike  deep  into  the  same  soil.  The 
branches  climb  aloft  towards  the  same  heaven.  Its  fruitfulness 
is  dependent  on  the  same  divine  injluences.  And  one  and  all 
who  labor  faithfully  their  allotted  season,  receive  at  its  close, 
from  the  sa7ne  Master,  the  same  ^^  penny  a  day.''^ 

HIS  IDEA  OF  TRUE  CATHOLICISM. 

"  Between  Dr.  Milnor  and  the  sectarian  bigot  there  was  no 
fellowship  of  feeling."  In  illustration  of  this  remark,  his  son 
relates  the  following  :  "  I  remember,  though  at  the  time  a  mere 
boy,  listening  to  a  conversation  between  him  and  a  brother  cler- 
gyman who  was  then  his  guest.  This  gentleman  advocated 
extreme  high-church  views  ;  shutting  the  gate  of  heaven  against 
all  without  the  pale  of  the  Episcopal  church,  save  as  the  uncov- 
enanted  mercy  of  God  might  perhaps  grant  them  admittance. 
After  long  argument  on  the  subject,  my  father's  face  glowing 
with  animation,  he  exclaimed,  '  Why,  my  good  sir,  if  I  held 
such  views  as  you  have  expressed,  I  could  not  rest  to-night  on 
my  pillow.  I  have  beloved  relatives  and  dear  friends,  who  are 
without  the  pale,  as  you  define  it.  Their  hopes  and  mine  rest 
on  the  same  Jesus.  Are  they  to  be  excluded  from  the  covenanted 
benefits  of  his  atonement,  simply  because  they  have  not  been 
baptized  in  an  Episcopal  church,  and  do  not  worship  according 
to  a  particular  form?" 

"When  recovering  from  a  violent  attack  of  gout,  and  unable 
to  read  from  an  affection  of  the  eyes,  I  read  to  him  one  afternoon 
the  controversy  between  Drs,  Wainwright  and  Potts  on  the  ques- 


RETROSPECT  OF  HIS  LIFE.  645 

tion  whether  there  can  be  a  Church  without  a  bishop.  When  I 
had  finished,  he  mildly  observed,  '  The  difference  between  high- 
churchmen  and  myself  is  this  :  they  magnify  into  essentials  what 
I  consider  non-essentials.^  At  another  time,  when  reading  to 
him  an  advertisement  of  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  distinctive 
principles  of  the  Church,  '  I  should  prefer,'  said  he,  '  a  course  on 
the  distinctive  principles  of  the  Gospel.'  " 

HIS  INDIFFERENCE  TO  OFFICIAL  ELEVATION. 

It  is  well  known  to  many,  that  he  was  more  than  once  solic- 
ited to  consent  to  a  nomination  as  candidate  for  the  Episcopal 
office.  He  sometimes,  in  his  vein  of  serious  humor,  refused  his 
applicant  by  saying,  "  No  ;  I  have  long  since  made  up  my  mind 
tx)  accept  no  mitre  lower  than  that  of  the  diocese  of  New  York  !" 

At  a  meeting  of  clergy  of  different  denominations,  the  subject 
of  an  election  of  an  assistant  bishop  for  the  diocese  of  Pennsyl- 
vania was  introduced.  A  friend  playfully  remarked  to  him,  "  Dr. 
Milnor,  I  understand  there  is  danger  that  a  mitre  will  fall  upon 
your  head."  "Not  the  least,"  he  as  playfully  replied.  "If  my 
Presbyterian  brethren  made  bishops,  I  might  possibly  have  some 
chance.  But,  indeed,"  he  more  seriously  continued,  "I  have  no 
aspirations  on  the  subject,  I  have  seldom  known  a  presbyter 
made  bishop  whose  piety  was  not,  more  or  less,  a  sufferer  from 
the  elevation.     I  have  little  enough,  as  it  is." 

By  this,  he  doubtless  meant,  that,  to  the  true  usefulness  and 
the  true  dignity  of  a  minister  of  Christ,  personal  piety  is  more 
important  than  official  rank;  and  that,  although  the  latter  is  not 
necessarily  incompatible  with  the  former  in  even  its  highest 
grade,  yet,  considering  the  weakness  of  our  nature,  there  is,  in 
all  elevated  official  distinction,  a  peril  to  Christian  character, 
which  should  deter  the  faithful  and  humble  servant  of  Christ 
from  coveting  the  exposure.  To  use  one  of  his  own  quotations, 
"  O  si  sic  omnesl"  The  Church  would  have  more  peace,  and 
the  world  more  profit. 

We  now  leave  the  subject  of  our  Memoir  to  his  rest  in  Christ, 
to  the  affectionate  regards  of  Christ's  people,  and  to  the  blessing 
cf  God  on  his  beneficent  example.     In  this  world  are  many  kinds 


646  MEMOIR  OF  DR.  MILNOR. 

of  greatness.  There  is  a  greatness  which  is  terrible,  and  a  great- 
ness which  is  splendid,  and  a  greatness  which  is  profound.  Per- 
haps the  best  idea  of  a  great  man  is  this:  one  who  has  enough 
perspicacity  to  discern  truth,  though  it  has  become  enveloped  in 
a  fog ;  and  enough  love  for  truth  discerned,  to  follow  it,  though  it 
lead  into  a  fire.  This  is  the  real  martyr  for  Christ,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  man  who  fancies  himself  "persecuted  for  right- 
eousness' sake,"  when  he  is  merely  punished  for  self-righteousness. 
Of  this  true  greatness  Dr.  Milnor  had  more  than  a  common  share. 
Certainly  his  greatness  was  neither  terrible  nor  splendid;  but  it 
was,  if  not  in  the  fullest  sense  profound,  at  least  in  the  truest 
sense  lovely.  It  wants  not  that  which  commends  him  to  our 
respect;  but  it  has  most  of  that  which  wins  our  affection.  His 
was  the  greatness  of  beneficent  action,  of  a  living  benevolence, 
and  of  an  enlarged  Christian  sympathy.  If  he  astonished  not 
by  deep  discoveries  in  science,  by  brilliant  displays  of  genius,  or 
by  prodigious  acquisitions  in  learning,  he  nevertheless  blessed  by 
a  noble  example,  by  a  beneficent  life,  and  by  yielding  freely 

AND  BEING  READY  TO  SUBMIT  PRACTICALLY  TO  THE  HIGHEST  CLAIMS  OF 

THE  GREATEST  TRUTHS,  He  pcnctratcd  greatly  into  the  depths  of 
Christian  experience.  He  felt  with  great  power  the  sinfulness 
of  his  nature  and  the  imperfections  of  his  life;  and,  with  great 
ingenuousness  and  self-abasement,  carried  all  his  sins  and  all  his 
imperfections  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  gave  to  his  Saviour  alone 
all  the  glory  of  his  great  salvation.  He  took  a  great  grasp  on 
eternal  things,  and  lived  greatly  by  seeking,  as  the  one  high  aim 
of  his  studies,  his  labors,  and  his  prayers,  the  supreme  glory  of 
God  in  the  everlasting  welfare  of  man.  May  such  samples  of 
Christian  character  be  multiplied,  till  all  the  world  has  learned 
how  great  is  God,  and  how  great  is  goodness. 


f 


s-m-'K 


646 


MEMOIR   OF  DR 


of  greatness.    There  is  a  greats' 
ness  which  is  sple^'^-^ 


